The tornadoes today were mainly associated with one long-tracked cyclic supercell that started producing tornadoes in Eastern Louisiana this morning. The supercell then moved completely across Mississippi, lifted for a bit and showed its face again in Alabama late this evening. You can connect the tornado reports to draw a distinct track.
The first tornado occurred around 11:45 am CDT and the same storm is still producing tornadoes as I type around 11:00pm CDT.
So far the storm has been alive for nearly 12 hours. That's one for the books for sure! I bet this tornado will be one of the longest tracked tornadoes ever recorded. It's had multiple touchdowns since its birth, but for a storm to cycle and maintain its strength this long is very, very rare.The previous record for the longest tracked tornado occurred during the Tri-State Tornado Event on March 18, 1925. The track was around 219 miles and it killed almost 700 people making it the deadliest tornado in history.
So by doing the math for today we're looking at having at least a track of 150-200 miles.
Stay tuned...The NWS will more then likely send out a damage survey team in the morning to assess the damage. From what I've seen on the news and online I think the 1/2-3/4 mile wide wedge tornado in Yazoo City, Mississippi will be given an EF-4 rating.
Just to be a contrarian I'll say EF-3. :P
ReplyDeleteActually if you can link to some of the material that leads you to say EF-4, please post it--the worst I saw was EF-3.
Oh and by the way, just for the record, 10 dead sucks. That's 10 too many.
ReplyDeleteThis video
ReplyDeletehttp://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/raw-my-church-is-gone-17097
At about :38 and :56 seconds is where I suspect EF-4 damage...brick construction...
Okay I see what you mean, although I'm still skeptical--those aren't bricks, they're cinder blocks. They are lighter than bricks, no mortar and thus easier to blow over.
ReplyDeleteEither way, we shall see what the teams say later today. I imagine the first word on this should come from the NWS office in charge.
Preliminary survey indicating EF-3 damage.. with a path width up to 1 1/2 miles! Overall path length still to be assessed..
ReplyDeleteFrom Jackson PNS..
PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS SHOW A CONTINUOUS TORNADO TRACK EXTENDING
FROM EAGLE LAKE THROUGH YAZOO CITY TO NEAR THE HOLMES COUNTY/YAZOO
COUNTY LINE. THIS TORNADO WILL BE GIVEN A PRELIMINARY RATING OF AT
LEAST EF3 WITH ASSOCIATED WIND SPEEDS TO 160 MPH WITH A PRELIMINARY
PATH WIDTH OF ONE AND ONE HALF MILES. LATER SURVEYS WILL DETERMINE
IF THIS CONTINUOUS TORNADO TRACK EXTENDS FARTHER TO THE SOUTHWEST
AND NORTHEAST.
Later surveys will determine if this continuous tornado track extends farther to the southwest and northeast. Further assessment and analysis will also determine if the rating should be adjusted higher.
ReplyDeleteBring on the EF-4 and record track length!!!
Well you're right about the EF-4. I guess they didn't show that damage on the video I have seen thus far then...
ReplyDelete"Path length: 97 miles...this path will increase as more damage will be surveyed east of the 4/25 survey. Maximum Width: 1.75 miles Rating: EF-4 with maximum winds of 170 mph. Casualties: 10 total fatalities with dozens of injuries."
Not so final word and Summary from the Capitol Weather Gang
ReplyDeletein Washington??