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Archive for February 2008

February wrapping up & Early March chasing

With tonight’s Alberta Clipper, February 2008 ties the all time February snow record for Chicago. This month was crazy for snow; practically every week had a snow event.

Chasing looks to begin for the season this weekend. The SPC has the southern plains into the Gulf States highlighted for severe weather:

Possible EF5 in Arkansas?

..VAN BUREN COUNTY

THE OTHER TEAM VIEWED DAMAGE FROM AROUND SHIRLEY BACK THROUGH
CLINTON AND CULPEPPER. MUCH OF THE SWATH OF DAMAGE WAS ONE HALF MILE
TO A MILE WIDE…WITH THE TORNADO RATED AS AT LEAST EF3.

THERE SOME CASES WHERE HOMES WERE SWEPT OFF OF THEIR FOUNDATIONS…
INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE BRAND NEW HOME. THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES
WHERE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THEIR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLES WERE
THROWN FOR A DISTANCE AND COULD NOT BE FOUND. THERE WERE THREE
FATALITIES IN VAN BUREN COUNTY.

A QUICK RESPONSE TEAM WILL LIKELY BE ASKED TO VIEW THE DAMAGE TO
DETERMINE IF THE RATING COULD BE HIGHER THAN EF3.

Marion County Damage picture

Found this on Flikr:

Here’s an excerpt from ABC 30/40’s blog:

ABC 33/40 meteorologist Brian Peters, who worked as a Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Birmingham for many years, has been dispatched to the Jackson County storm site; he is on a QRT (quick response team) that is called in when tornado damage is considered to be EF4 or EF5. We just heard from the Huntsville NWS office; they will hold a briefing at 3:00 at the Rosalie Community Center in Jackson County to disclose their story survey findings.

A Statement from WFO Nashville

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1040 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO SURVEY TORNADO DAMAGE…

BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR IMAGES AND DAMAGE REPORTS FROM AROUND
MIDDLE TENNESSEE LAST NIGHT, IT APPEARS THAT AT LEAST TWO
SIGNIFICANT LONG LIVED SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS MOVED ACROSS THE
AREA.
Continue Reading “A Statement from WFO Nashville” »

Columbia Gulf pipeline hit by a tornado

There are reports of an explosion in the Castillion Springs area in association with the passage of the tornado. Witness reports that “the sky is orange…so whatever is happening over there is obviously quite large.” Info coming in as I write this is that the Columbia-Gulf pumping station is what took a hit.

Arkansas Tornadoes

There are reports of 11 dead so far in Atkins, Arkansas area.


Tornado Near Atkins-Photo By Mike Avery

At least two people were killed in tornadoes in Tennessee. Three other fatalities were reported in a tornado that struck western Kentucky Tuesday.

Fatalities so far…

Running tally of fatalities from today’s outbreak:

7 in AR
2 in Metro Memphis
2 in Metro Jackson
3 in Muhlenberg County, KY
1 in Oxford, MS (per TWC)

Major tornado outbreak ongoing

There is a tornadic supercell moving towards Nashville at this hour.
It is heading toward Bellevue, Belle Meade and Downtown. There is an NHL hockey game going on in downtown. It should arrive there about 9:35 p.m.

It looks like Union University in Jackson, MS got hit hard. There are reports of damage to student dorms and cars flipped over.

Damage is extensive in Jackson, Tennessee, including Union University. Media is reporting 86 injuries including 20-30 Union Students. An ABC3340 Weather Watcher relayed a report from a Jackson firefighter who likened the damage to Hiroshima. He reports fatalities. Damage heavy near downtown Jackson.