The Tornado Path From Space

This is the path of the F-4 intensity Louisville, Mississippi tornado that occurred Monday evening.

Graduation, Mother's Day, Father's Day Recommendation

This is one happy reader!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book, April 30, 2014 By  Robert Kaufman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather (enhanced) (Kindle Edition) Excellent, wonderful, very good, highly informative, best ever memoir of a meteorologist, thrilling, exciting, surprising, well written, interesting throughout, GOOOOOOOOD! really great!!!!! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment

I went back through Mr. Kaufman's reviews on Amazon and he is a tough critic: Some books he gives one-star. This author is thrilled he enjoyed Warnings so much.

Now, another piece of business:

While I am very pleased that Amazon has apparently sold 11 copies since Saturday, it makes me concerned that Amazon, yet again, is going to run out as we approach Mother's Day, Father's Day and graduations. While you can get Warnings at Barnes & Noble and your local book store (they can order it if they do not have a copy in stock), if you want to buy it from Amazon, please get your order in ASAP.

Tornado Watch for Virginia and North Carolina

Today's Tornado Threat

While the threat of "super tornadoes" is low today, the threat for destructive tornadoes still exists. On this Storm Prediction Center forecast, 5% is the significant threshold where you should pay attention to the weather as thunderstorms approach. People in the 10% area should be especially vigilant.

Tornado Warnings in Eastern North Carolina

The red polygons are tornado warnings.

Third Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch: North Carolina

12:51pm Tornado Watch Issued

The first tornado watch of the afternoon has been issued.

Tornado Outlook Through Tonight

Day three of this multi-day tornado outlook is upon us.

Five percent is the significant threshold for tornado risk. Both Atlanta and Nashville are in the 10% area. The hatched area is where strong tornadoes may occur.

If you live in these areas, please keep up on local weather information.

Serious Flood Thrreat

In addition to the tornado threat (more on that shortly), there is a major flood and flash flood threat through tonight. Maroon is a flash flood warning. Greens are flood watches.

The yellow is an active tornado watch.

ARMING THE ENEMY

Our Idiot Secretary of State John Kerry

Kerry Warns Israel Could Become ‘An Apartheid State’




"If there’s no two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict soon, Israel risks becoming an apartheid state,” Secretary of State John Kerry told a room of influential world leaders in a meeting Friday.

Way to go, Lurch. You have just provided potent propaganda fuel to an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims around the world, who already hate the Israel and their only ally, the United States. Al Qaeda will be quoting you in their recruiting drives for the next twenty years.

This is an outrage. This insulting language is a direct slap across the face of the Israelis, coming on the eve of Yom HaShoah, the memorial day commemorating the Holocaust.

I have been to Israel several times and I am here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. I have visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem - site of Solomon's Temple - on a Friday. The place was full of Arabs attending Friday prayers at the al Aqsa Mosque; as far as I know I was the only non-Muslim up there. It is forbidden by Israeli law for Jews to pray on the Temple Mount - a law that is enforced by Israeli policemen.


Highway signs in Israel are in Hebrew, Arabic and English. This is not the case in the Palestinian Territories, I can assure you.

While I was in Israel I saw a car with green license plates, and asked my Israeli host, "What is this? All the Israeli license plates are blue."

"That car belongs to a Palestinian."

"Oh? You mean there is a separation? Two classes of citizens?"

"No. This means that individual chooses to be separate."

I was then taken to the Knesset - the Israeli parliament - where Arab members of the Knesset were pointed out to me. "Those Arabs choose to be Israeli citizens. It is a free society."


Members of the Knesset Ahmed Tibi, left, Hanna Swaid, middle, and Jamal Zahalka, right during a hearing, Jerusalem, July 20, 2011 Photo by Emil Salman



MK Hanin Zoabi of the Arab Balad party seen during a plenum session in the Knesset on April 29, 2013 (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)


Please name for me, Mr. Kerry, a single Arab country that has Jews sitting in it's parliament.

STORMBRINGER SENDS

Great Book For the Graduate, Mom, Dad, or Yourself

Have had a surge in sales of Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather.

Amazon tends to turn out before holidays. So, if you would like to make sure you get a copy, please order soon.

Last Update of the Night

After two days of nearly non-stop typing, this is the last update for the night. Please consider the overnight tornado precautions (below).

I'll have an update in the morning as to Tuesday's severe weather threats.

How Do I Keep My Family Safe in an Overnight Tornado?

There is a real chance of overnight tornadoes tonight. People often ask me how they should keep themselves and their families safe. Here are some suggestions:

I, personally, want two or more ways of getting the warning. So, here are some ideas:

• NOAA Weather Radio, preferably with your county (and, maybe one county to the west) programmed in and set to go off only for a tornado warning. That way, you aren't awakened by severe thunderstorm warnings or non-pertinent counties.
• Subscribe to WeatherCall. This is more precise than weather radios so you are even less likely to be awakened for a false alarm. 
• Put the AccuWeather app on your cell phone. It will let you know if a watch, etc., is issued.
• If you live in an area with tornado sirens, crack your window so you might hear it better during the night.

Or, you can just sleep in the basement or safe room. 

Tornado Warning for Birmingham & Jefferson Co.

11:45pm. Tornado warning has expired. There is still some weak circulation near Homewood and just north of downtown Birmingham. People in Mountain Brook and Tarrant should keep an eye on the storm for the next few minutes and take shelter if it appears threatening.  Considerable damage and injuries reported in Bessemer. Last update. 

11:31pm, latest position circled. Damage confirmed. Take cover throughout Birmingham Metro!

11:19pm, classic "hook echo" (arrow) near Bessemer moving toward Birmingham.

11:10PM dual-polarization radar shows debris lofted high into the atmosphere by the tornado (circle) as it moves northeast toward Birmingham.

ORIGINAL POSTING:
Very dangerous nighttime tornado situation. I have indicated both the hook echo (arrow) and the rotation (circle) which shows a strong tornado. Take cover immediately, including the city of Birmingham. 

Tornado Warning for Birmingham Metro!

9:47pm, storm weakened, tornado warning cancelled. However -- there are other storms to the west. 

As I feared, a tornado warning is out for Jefferson Co., Alabama, including the north half of the Birmingham Metro. Take cover now!!

Heads Up, Birmingham

There are two thunderstorms approaching the Birmingham Metro at 9:13pm with broad rotation. Please turn on James Spann or your weather radio in case a tornado warning is issued. Click to enlarge graphics.

Tornado Forecast for the Rest of the Night

This is valid until 8am EDT.

Five percent is the significant threshold. Note this includes Atlanta.  The area hatched is where violent tornadoes are forecast to occur. See nearby posting for suggestions for keeping your family safe in an overnight tornado situation.

Tornado Warning for Chattanooga

9:43PM update:

Extreme hook echo = tornado signature.

Moving toward Chattanooga - Take Cover 

ORIGINAL POSTING:

I have indicated the hook echo (arrow) and the circulation (circle) as of 9:37pm EDT. Take cover now!

Tornado Warning Southwest of Chattanooga

The hook echo is west of Trenton. This storm is moving northeast.

People in Chattanooga should keep an eye on this approaching storm.

Tornado Threat North and West of Birmingham

I'm shocked there is no tornado warning on the Jasper, AL signature. Three areas of rotation are circled and moving NE.

Dangerous, Rain-Wrapped Tornado Southern Tennessee

Forget the darkness, this tornado is completely rain-wrapped and invisible. That is a debris ball (circled) confirming the tornado is on the ground. Take cover in the tornado warning (red polygon)! Storm moving northeast.

The Latest on the Tornado Warnings

As just posted (scroll down), the tornado watch was extended to 3am CDT. Here are the current tornado warnings as of 8:15pm.

Tornado Watch for Birmingham and Alabama, Georgia, Louisana, Mississippi and Tennessee

Note the probability of tornadoes is "high" and strong tornadoes "moderate."

This tornado watch is valid until 3am CDT/4am EDT, so it could be a long night.

Tornado Watch for Atlanta

I think this tornado watch may be premature as I don't think the main threat is until later in the night. That said, there is now a tornado watch for west central and northwest Georgia, including Atlanta.

The Goal of Our Severe Weather Coverage

We have had more than 10,000 new readers in the last 24-hours if the web metrics are correct. The blog is brought to you by Mike Smith Enterprises, LLC. We have two books out, Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather and When the Sirens Were Silent the story of the Joplin tornado. Both books are highly-rated by both critics and readers.

We also do professional speaking about weather and disaster risks.

The goal of this blog is to cover weather, science and climate in an interesting and informative manner. We do not attempt to cover every storm but want to bring you heads up's on major weather situations.

A special thank you to our new readers and we hope you enjoy the blog.

Tornado Moving into Brandon, MS

Damage from this tornado:

ORIGINAL POSTING:
The tornado is going to move across Brandon, MS and it may hit the NWS and their radar which is at the center of the black circle. Confirmed damage. One report of "emergency conditions" in the Jackson area.

Click to enlarge graphics. 

UPDATE 6:52PM

Considerable lofted debris detected by dual-polarization radar. Apparently, the tornado passed just south of the radar. It is still on the ground.

"Heavy damage" reported with this tornado. 

2 miles WSW of BRANDON, MS-Many homes damaged. Search in progress.

Update on Jackson, MS Tornado Threat

6:39pm update:
TORNADO in progress in Richland, MS suburb of Jackson moving toward Pearl & Brandon, MS. Damage confirmed. Take cover immediately.

Also… tornado on the ground east of Canton, MS moving toward Carthage.


ORIGINAL POSTING:
I have circled lofted debris in the southernmost part of the Jackson, MS area.

 A classic "hook echo" is visible below. This storm is moving toward Pearl and Brandon. Take cover now.

Tornado Risk west and southwest of Atlanta

I have arrows pointing at the tornado risk areas. I am very surprised there is no tornado warning on the storm west of ATL. Please take cover if that storm appears threatening!

Attention: Businesses Interested in Weather

If you a client of the company that lost communications with the National Weather Service and can't get the latest tornado warnings, please consider switching to AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions.

We are the only organization that issues B2B tornado warnings (and all other types of storms) tailored for businesses. While we receive all of the NWS warnings as an additional source of information, you have a superior layer of protection with the SkyGuard® warnings from AccuWeather.

Just this afternoon, we provided 17-minutes additional warning to our clients in the Tupelo area when compared with governmental sources.

AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions help businesses protect their people, property and profits. Call us today -- the next storm may already be on the way.

Tornado Warning: Jackson, MS

City of Jackson, MS is now under a tornado warning. The locations of the two tornadoes are circled. 

Take cover now!!

"Particularly Dangerous Situation" Georgia, Tennessee, Far West North Carolina

Another rare particularly dangerous situation tornado watch is now in effect:

Note: The probability of strong tornadoes (≥F-2) is "high." Please make preliminary precautions for sheltering and make sure friends and family in the area are aware of the threat.

Preliminary sheltering plans:

• Substantial footware. If your area is hit, you don't want to be walking over nails and glass.
• A flashlight with extra batteries.
• Some bottles of water. 
• Cash, in case you cannot get to an ATM.
• Family heirlooms.