Rough Week

Unless you completely closed yourself off to anything related to news, it would be almost impossible not to be aware of what has happened across much of the southern part of the United States this past week.  In a broader view, this part of the country has experienced some of the worst weather ever recorded.

Let's be honest.  The entire month of April is one that many across the country will be happy to see leave, especially in the south.  Everything culminated during this final week of the month.  Things started out poorly on Monday when 55 tornadoes were reported in 8 states.  The stage was beginning to be set for Tuesday when heavy rain and tornadoes dominated the landscape.

Over 100 tornadoes (red) were reported Tuesday, almost all located in the same general area.  

The circled area on the map is what I drew, representing the hardest hit places this last week in terms of tornadoes and flooding.  Keep in mind this circle as the maps progress.

Then there was Wednesday.  A day that millions of people will never forget.  And hopefully one that doesn't happen again anytime soon.  263 tornadoes were reported.  Over 300 people have been confirmed dead.  It was the second deadliest day ever recorded in the U.S.  Two EF-5 tornadoes touched down on the same day for the first time in over 20 years.  Mississippi and Alabama were some of the hardest hit, including the tornado that went right through Tuscaloosa that has received much press.   

Here is what the storm report looks like for Wednesday.  There are so many red dots in northern Alabama that it almost appears to look colored in.

And if you haven't seen the video below, watch it.  I still can't imagine what it is like to be this close and feel completely helpless knowing the amount of destruction and death these things are causing.

I remind you that this was not one of the EF-5 tornadoes reported.  This was a category below.  However, the fact the path went right through the center of a populated city makes this about as bad as it can get.  At anywhere from 1/2 to one mile wide, the tornado did significant damage.

Top: A clear path can be seen entering the city.  Bottom:  A look at 15th street in town after the tornado plows through a busy intersection.  (Photos from Tuscaloosanews.com)

From reports, I was able to draw this estimated tornado path in red.  Using Google maps, I wanted to show just how close this storm was to downtown Tuscaloosa and even the University of Alabama.  The picture above this is in the area right around the circled 6.

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If you remember the circle I was referring to earlier, where Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri all seems to come together, I want to talk about that area again.  Many places, if not all in that generally area have received 10 to 20 inches of rain this month.  Between the dodging of tornadoes, wind damage and hail, the flooding is becoming very serious.  And the first week of May will offer little to no relief.

The image shows the total rainfall predicted by the NOAA for the next 72 hours for this same area that continued to get battered by rain.  The yellow in central Arkansas is right around 10 inches. 

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Locally, once again we get away in relative good condition.  It would be especially hard to complain when others are going through all the things mentioned above.  

I still wouldn't let my guard down.  Even during this outbreak, there were at least four reported tornadoes in eastern Pennsylvania.  3 occurred in the Lancaster and York areas while another was confirmed to the north of Scranton.  Even though these are generally weak and short in duration, injuries from downed trees and wires is always a possibility.   

With May being the peak month for tornadoes across the country, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on the weather regardless of where you are.