Weird and Wild Weather

We were sitting at TKD last night when Vivian's cell went off to say that all baseball games before 8pm had been cancelled (we didn't have one but Tammy's daughter did). We all looked outside and couldn't figure out why. When we were leaving, we spotted the ABC helicopter overhead and still couldn't figure out why. We looked to our north and spotted a wall cloud but it was well past us.

When we get home, Gary's on TV with Skytracker (their helicopter) pointing right at that wall cloud we saw. By this point, it was crossing over into Missouri. It was cool because there were some horizontal funnels. About this time, our weather radio goes off for a thunderstorm warning. We got a little hail and the rain was insane at times. Then, it stopped. I went outside to take a look at the clouds when I saw yet another wall cloud. This one was clearly rotating. I run back in to get my camera and to tell the kids to get in the basement and head back outside. While there, I see that my neighbor across the street is also out with a camera. We meet up in the middle of the street and are oohing and aahhing over the fact that you can actually see the inflow (clouds were moving straight up...getting sucked right into the main wall cloud). It never actually did anything more than just rotate but it was kind of scary. If I can get the video uploaded, I'll post it.

After we got the kids in bed, the real rain started. By the time everything shut off (a little after midnight) we had 4.4 inches of rain in the gauge and about 4 rounds of hail.

They say round 2 comes tonight with round 3 tomorrow. I guess we're in the Moderate Risk area for today so it should be interesting.

OH! I pulled this from the weather blog. Someone posted it there because there's been some discussion about whether or not the sirens should have been activated and/or tornado warnings issued last night. I thought that it's a good refresher for everyone, especially since this year (at least for us) seems to be much more active than normal.

About Weather Watches:

When conditions become favorable for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to develop, SPC usually issues a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch. Tornadoes can occur in either type of watch but tornado watches are issued when conditions are especially favorable for tornadoes. Watches encourage the general public to stay alert for changing weather conditions and possible warnings. A typical watch has duration of about four to six hours but it may be canceled, replaced, or re-issued as required. A watch is not a warning, and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that there will be severe weather!

Tornado Watch The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issues Public Tornado Watches to alert the public, media and emergency managers to organized thunderstorms forecast to produce three or more tornadoes or any tornado which could produce F2 or greater damage. The forecast event minimum thresholds should be at least 2 hours over an area of at least 8,000 square miles.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issues Public Severe Thunderstorm Watches to alert the public, media and emergency managers to organized thunderstorms forecast to produce six and more hail events of 1 inch (penny) diameter or greater, or damaging winds of 50 knots (58 mph) or greater. The forecast event minimum thresholds should be at least 2 hours over an area of at least 8,000 square miles.

Tornado Warning Tornado Warnings are issued when there is radar indication and/or reliable spotter reports of a tornado.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued when there is radar indication and/or reliable spotter reports of hail of 3/4 inch (penny) diameter or greater, and/or wind gusts of 50 knots (58 mph) or greater.

ALMOST ALL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING TEXT: “SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES AT ANY TIME. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY BUILDING...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.”