Category Archives: Natural Disasters

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Stunning satellite imagery shows damage path of deadly EF3 Massachusetts tornado

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The Bay State is not one which is normally associated with tornadoes having only seen 152 twisters in the past 60 years – up until last week.  Massachusetts took a big hit last week though as a massive tornado ripped through the Springfield area killing four people.

Satellite imagery released by the USGS and NASA (below) shows the scar the EF3 tornado left on the earth as it ripped a path 39 miles long.  The image taken by Landsat shows the path of the half-mile wide tornado as it cut through Sturbridge and beyond.

The twister first touched down near Westfield and then moved into Springfield after crossing the Connecticut River.  Both areas saw extensive damage to buildings and homes as the twister moved through.

As it moved east the tornado debarked trees and struck the town of Monson where extensive damage was seen.  It eventually hit Brimfield Sate Forest and then the Southbridge Airport.

When it was done, four people were killed  and 200 injured.  Latest estimates put the damage cost at $90 million making it the most costly natural disaster in the state’s history.

Two smaller, EF1 rated tornadoes also struck nearby on the same day.  One caused a damage path 3.6 miles long and the other 1.3 miles long.

Related:

Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. (USGS / NASA)
Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. Click the image for a larger version. (USGS / NASA)
Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

Smoke from Arizona wildfire brings hazy conditions to the Colorado Front Range

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Satellite imagery shows smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona entering Colorado. Click the image for a larger view.
Satellite imagery shows smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona entering Colorado. Click the image for a larger view.

Recent days have brought hazy conditions to the Denver area and all along the Colorado Front Range.  At times residents have even smelled smoke and the culprit lies hundreds of miles to our south.

Two fires burning near Trinidad as well as one in southern New Mexico were attributed to the hazy conditions early last week.  Now a massive fire in eastern Arizona is sending smoke our way and causing the horizon to be obscured

The fire burning 250 miles northeast of Phoenix has been dubbed the Wallow Fire and is burning through lush but dry forest.  At latest estimates the blaze has scorched 144,000 acres making it the third largest blaze in Arizona’s history.

More than 1,300 firefighters from across the nation are on the scene and battling the blaze.  Zero containment has been established but firefighters have made progress in recent days slowing its advance.

The images to the top right and below were taken by NASA and NOAA satellites and clearly show the smoke from the blaze.

In this image from NASA, the smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona as well as others further to the south and in Mexico is seen.
In this image from NASA, the smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona as well as others further to the south and in Mexico is seen.
Natural Disasters

Severe weather continues to cause destruction, claim lives

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Tornadoes and other forms of severe weather have caused extraordinary damage and loss of life this spring across the nation.
Tornadoes and other forms of severe weather have caused extraordinary damage and loss of life this spring across the nation.

Tornadoes, damaging wind, hail and flooding rains are a fact of life in the United States in the springtime.  This season however has seen an absolutely devastating series of storms systems that have brought extraordinary levels of destruction and loss of life.

Among our writing assignments for Examiner.com we are the Natural Disasters Examiner.  Of late the vast majority of our coverage has centered on the severe weather.  Below are some of the stories we have written in recent days about the outbreaks.  Follow the links for greater detail including photos and videos.

Deadly severe weather season continues as 13 killed across three states
Mother Nature continues to pile on more severe weather in what has been a particularly devastating and deadly spring in the United States.  Tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind struck the central and southern U.S. yesterday killing at least 13 people.

Deadly Joplin, Missouri tornado rated EF5; Death toll climbs to 125
The tornado that ripped through the southwestern Missouri town of Joplin on Sunday has quickly achieved its place in the annals of weather history.  The National Weather Service has completed its evaluation of the deadly twister and given it the highest possible rating even as the death toll continues to climb.

2011 tornado statistics provide chilling empirical evidence of a deadly season
The scenes of utter devastation have been played out across the nation this spring as tornadoes rip across the landscape.  The latest statistics for the tornado season show clearly that the death toll has been staggering and the number of twisters record-setting.

Tornado statistics: Top 25 deadliest tornado seasons in U.S. history
On average the United States suffers 80 deaths per year because of tornadoes, more than any other nation on the globe.  As warning systems and forecasts have improved the number of tornado-related fatalities has been decreasing but history shows that the loss of life can still be substantial.

Tornado statistics: Top 25 deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history
With an average of 1,200 tornadoes per year, more twisters strike the United States than any other nation in the world.  These storms can strike with deadly effects with a single twister covering more than a hundred miles, wiping out entire towns and claiming dozens of lives.

Video captures sheer terror of residents as tornado rips apart Joplin, Missouri
The deadliest tornado since 1953 ripped through the southwestern town of Joplin, Missouri yesterday reducing parts of the town to rubble.  A new YouTube video captures the terror felt by residents as they hudled in the back of a convenience store as the twister made a direct hit.

Natural Disasters

Deadliest tornado since 1953 strikes Joplin, Missouri

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Cars and debris are strewn about in front of the devastated St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. (Twitpic / borntorunnergrl)
Cars and debris are strewn about in front of the devastated St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. Click the image to view a slideshow of the devastation. (Twitpic / borntorunnergrl)

Following on last month’s devastating bout of severe weather the month of May had started out much quieter.  That silence from Mother Nature however was shattered yesterday as a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri killing at least 89 people.

Late afternoon brought storm clouds to southwestern Missouri and a tornado warning soon sounded.  Residents of Joplin had 20 minutes to find cover before the massive tornado struck the heart of town.

  • Scroll down for amazing video of the Joplin tornado as it grows with amazing speed.  Also be sure to check out the slideshow of images of the devastation.

As frightened residents huddled in basements and bathrooms, the twister destroyed as much as 75% of the town.  The high school, regional medical center, an elementary school as well as thousands of other homes and businesses were destroyed.

The human toll from the tornado was devastating.  At latest report 89 people were killed and emergency crews continue to search for survivors as the death toll is expected to climb.

Not since June 9, 1953 has a deadlier single tornado been responsible for so much death.  As is, the Joplin tornado would rank as the 21st deadliest tornado in the history of the United States.  In all likelihood it will climb further up the rankings.

Slideshow: Scenes of destruction played out in Joplin, MO after tornado strikes. (Examiner.com)

The National Guard has been activated by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to help with recovery efforts.  Relief agencies across the nation were deploying personnel and supplies to assist as well.

The tornado that struck Joplin was part of a larger set of storms that struck multiple states on Sunday.  In all, 48 tornadoes were reported including one near Minneapolis that claimed the life of one person.

More from the Natural Disasters Examiner:

Natural Disasters

New images show Japanese nuclear plant as it was struck by tsunami

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Waves from the March 11 tsunami are seen sweeping away cars at Japan's Fukushima power plant. Click the image to view a slideshow on Examiner.com. (TEPCO)
Waves from the March 11 tsunami are seen sweeping away cars at Japan's Fukushima power plant. Click the image to view a slideshow on Examiner.com. (TEPCO)

Japan is continuing to recover from the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the resultant tsunami that struck the nation in March.  This past week Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) released new images of its Fukushima power plant as the massive waves struck the facility.

Damage at the power plant was extensive and in seeing the new photos one can understand why the nuclear facility was unable to withstand the blow.  Waves are seen in the photos sweeping over a sea wall and soon enveloping the interior of the plant.

Waves of more than 30 feet resulted from the earthquake, the fourth largest since 1900, and were responsible for extensive damage and a staggering death toll.  More than 91,000 structures were totally destroyed by the waves that swept away entire towns.

According to the National Police Agency, 15,129 lives were claimed.  The toll however is expected to continue to climb as another 9,034 people are reported missing.  As it stands now the quake ranks as Japan’s fifth deadliest in history but will likely hit the number four spot when the final death toll is calculated.

Related: Extensive damage from within Japan’s stricken nuclear power plant (Examiner.com)

For all the latest on all types of natural disasters, be sure to check out the Natural Disasters Examiner on Examiner.com.  You can also ‘like’ the Natural Disasters Examiner on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

National Weather, Natural Disasters

NOAA releases statistics highlighting devastating April tornado outbreak

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Tornado Tracks: April 24th through the 29th, 2011. (NOAA)
Tornado Tracks: April 24th through the 29th, 2011. (NOAA) Click the image for a larger view.

The devastating tornado outbreak that struck across the southern United States last month continues to be analyzed by the National Weather Service.  At latest county 326 people were killed and as many as 305 tornadoes resulted in in the outbreak.

What follows is NOAA’s latest update on the events:

From NOAA:

NOAA’s preliminary estimate is that there were 305 tornadoes during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 25 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011. NWS created a table to provide clearer insight into the preliminary number of tornadoes. Each of the three categories in the table below has different levels of confidence/accuracy.

  • Eyewitness Reports are the least accurate/reliable because long-lived tornadoes like those in this outbreak tend to be reported multiple times. This artificially increases the number of tornadoes.
  • NOAA’s Estimate is based on expert analysis of the Eyewitness Reports compared with the details coming out of the Tornadoes Surveyed by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFO). It is the statistic NWS uses in public announcements since it is the best estimate at the time. The numbers will change (typically down) as WFOs complete their storm surveys.
  • Tornadoes Surveyed by WFOs is the latest confirmed number of tornadoes surveyed by the National Weather Service.
Preliminary Tornado Data Table
Date Eyewitness Reports NOAA’s Estimate Tornadoes Surveyed by WFOs (to date)
25-26 55 40 25
26-27 111 75 42
27-28 268 190 134
Total: 434 305 201
  • The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued severe weather outlooks five days in advance and tornado watches hours in advance.
  • NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued life-saving tornado warnings, with an average lead-time of 24 minutes. NWS issued warnings for more than 90 percent of these tornadoes.
  • NWS decision support for this event has been extensive. NWS Weather Forecast Offices in the affected areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia advertised the potential for severe weather in the Tuesday through Wednesday timeframe since late last week. Local offices provided direct decision support services to meet the specific needs of local emergency manager partners and the general public. NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued Hazardous Weather Outlooks up to six days in advance noting the greater threat of strong, long-track tornadoes was expected.
  • The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.
  • NOAA will conduct a detailed analysis of tornado numbers using all available data to make any final determinations about records.  This typically takes months to complete.

There were approximately 326 fatalities during the entire outbreak from April 25 to April 28.

There were approximately 309 fatalities during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28. This is currently the fifth deadliest day of tornadoes on record.

  • The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado during the April 2011 event caused at least 65 fatalities. This tornado had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track 80 miles long
    • These are the most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955, when 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas with 75 of those deaths in Udall, Kansas.
    • The deadliest single tornado on record in the United States was the Tri-State tornado (Mo., Ill., Ind.) on March 18, 1925, when 695 died.

According to National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Storm Survey teams, there were 24+ killer tornadoes in six states–Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia–that caused an estimated 326 fatalities.

The National Weather Service Storm Survey teams have upgraded to EF-5 the tornado that hit Neshoba, Kemper, Winston, Noxubee Counties in Mississippi.  The Weather Service has documented three (3) EF-5 tornadoes in this outbreak.

EF-5 Tornado Locations

  • Northern Mississippi/Eastern Arkansas
    • Smithville in Monroe County
  • Mississippi (NEWLY UPGRADED TO EF-5 FROM E-4)
  • Northern/Central Alabama (WFO Birmingham Warning Area):
    • Hackleburg in Marion County

The following are the tornado fatality breakdowns by state:

  • 4 – Arkansas
  • 35 – Mississippi
  • 236 – Alabama
  • 31 – Tennessee
  • 5 – Virginia
  • 15 – Georgia

Note:  All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.

Ongoing (preliminary) List of Tornadoes by EF Rating (EF0 to EF5):
EF-5 3
EF-4 11
EF-3 21
EF-2 47
EF-1 62
EF-0 57
Total: 201
National Weather, Natural Disasters

The South tries to recover amongst devastation of 2nd deadliest tornado outbreak on record

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Damage from an EF5 tornado that struck Smithville, Miss., on April 27, 2011.
Damage from an EF5 tornado that struck Smithville, Miss., on April 27, 2011. Click the image for a slideshow of the devastation. (NWS)

With entire towns reduced to rubble and damage spread across seven states, people in the southeastern United States began the long task of recovery.  The tornadoes that struck this past week claimed 341 lives and achieved the unwanted status as the 2nd deadliest single-day tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

President Barack Obama toured the devastated city of Tuscaloosa in Alabama yesterday saying, “I have never seen devastation like this. It is heartbreaking.”

The National Weather Service received 211 tornado reports during the outbreak, a number that will be reduced once duplicates are removed.  No matter the number of twisters, the results were nothing short of devastating.

One tornado that struck near Smithville, Mississippi has received an EF-5 rating – the highest possible.  Meteorologists estimate that twister packed winds of 205mph.  A tornado in Georgia was rated an EF-4 and at least five EF-3 tornadoes struck Alabama.  Weather service officials say they expect more twisters could receive the highest rating as they continue their investigation.

With 341 lives confirmed lost and the number expected to continue to grow, the outbreak ranks as the 2nd deadliest single-day outbreak on record.  It surpassed the “Super Outbreak” of 1974 and a 1932 outbreak in the Deep South.

Some are speculating the toll will grow enough for the event to become the worst in history, a truly nightmare scenario.  The Tri-State tornado on March 18, 1925 claimed the lives of 747 people.  One tornado alone in that outbreak tracked 234 miles across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Slideshow: DigitalGlobe, NASA and Geoeye satellites provide view of tornado devastation
Slideshow: DigitalGlobe, NASA and Geoeye satellites provide view of tornado devastation

Obama has promised to speed federal aid to the region as governor’s in the hardest hit states declared states of emergency. “We can’t bring those who’ve been lost back. They’re alongside God at this point … but the property damage, which is obviously extensive, that’s something we can do something about,” the president said.

Damage estimates continue but an untold number of homes have been destroyed, certainly a number in the thousands.  Insured losses could reach between $2 billion and $5 billion which would push the disaster into the top 10 list of most expensive natural disasters in US history.

We are providing complete coverage of the tornado outbreak on Examiner.com.  Please visit the following links for more information.

Photo slideshows:

Related stories:

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Disaster strikes: Worst tornado outbreak in more than 30 years hits the South

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A tornado is seen ripping through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. View more images in the slideshow below.
A tornado is seen ripping through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. View more images in the slideshow below. (Credit: yfrog / bamawx)

A virtually unrivaled severe weather outbreak hit the southern United States yesterday bringing death and destruction.  The death toll from the event continues to climb and now ranks as the second worst since 1950.

The evaluation on the number of tornadoes and their power has begun by the National Weather Service.  The Storm Prediction Center recorded 164 reports but a number of those will be eliminated as duplicates of the same twisters.

Harold Brooks, a meteorologist with the SPC, told the Associated Press that he believed as many as 60 reports may be attributed to a single long-track tornado.  He further said that some may have achieved the EF-5 rating, the highest possible that generates winds in excess of 200mph.

Recovery efforts across the nation’s South continue as resources continue to arrive.  The Red Cross and other relief agencies were sending personnel from across the nation to help with search and rescue and to help with the distribution of water, food and other necessities.

  • Check out images and video of the tornadoes below

More than 1 million people were still without power this evening in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.  The Browns Ferry nuclear power plant west of Huntsville lost power from the storms but was able to safely shut down.

Alabama announced 11 more fatalities bringing the state’s losses to at least 195.  Overall at least 284 people across six states were killed making the disaster one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.  Only the “Super Outbreak” of 1974 caused more deaths.

Photo slideshow - Death and destruction in Alabama in the wake of tornado outbreak.
Photo slideshow - Death and destruction in Alabama in the wake of tornado outbreak.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox said, “I don’t know how anyone survived.”  The mayor toured his city by helicopter and was stunned by the devastation. “We have neighborhoods that have been basically removed from the map,”Maddox said.

States of emergency were declared in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.  President Barack Obama announced that he would speed federal aid to the disaster stricken region and would visit Alabama personally on Friday.

For complete coverage of the tornado outbreak, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Do you know what to do when severe weather strikes? Learn how to protect you and your family:

Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather, Weather Education

What not to do when faced with a tornado

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When faced with a tornado what would you do? Do the smart thing and drop the camera and seek shelter.
When faced with a tornado what would you do? Do the smart thing and drop the camera and seek shelter.

Just as we were wrapping up Severe Weather Awareness Week on ThorntonWeather.com, disaster struck the nation’s south.  Dozens of tornadoes brought death and destruction and at the same time Mother Nature allowed us to learn valuable lessons.

Extreme weather events have gotten more and more attention thanks to Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other forms of social media.  Television shows like Discovery’s Storm Chasers and shows on the Weather Channel feed a seemingly insatiable desire to see these events.  They give the impression that anyone can stare down major storms with few repercussions but that is far from the truth.

Professional weather watchers, meteorologists and storm chasers cringe at some of what we see when these events happen.  People with seemingly no clue of the destructive and unpredictable nature of what they are looking at put themselves in harm’s way for 60 seconds of fame.

The severe weather outbreak of recent days highlights the folly of those uninitiated and untrained in these phenomena.  One particularly striking video has emerged of a man in Wilson, North Carolina watching as a tornado approaches, talking on the phone and shooting video.

The video (below) is scary to watch as the man is oblivious to what is coming toward him at 50mph.  We implore all ThorntonWeather.com readers to do the smart thing – seek shelter when severe weather.  Don’t become a statistic for a photo or a video.

For more on social media and the lessons that can be learned, check out this story from the Natural Disasters Examiner.

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Three-day severe weather outbreak kills dozens across nation’s south

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Debris is scattered through Sanford, North Carolina in the wake of one of dozens of tornadoes that truck in the past three days. (Yfrog / SanfordHerald http://yfrog.com/h4rystdj)
Debris is scattered through Sanford, North Carolina in the wake of one of dozens of tornadoes that truck in the past three days. View more images in the slideshow below. (Yfrog / SanfordHerald http://yfrog.com/h4rystdj)

One series of storms moved across the southeastern United States over a period of three days and wreaked havoc along the way.  In their wake more than three dozen people are dead from the severe weather that brought tornadoes, hail and wind.

On Thursday Oklahoma and Arkansas were the first to experience the severe weather that spawned a line of storms hundreds of miles long.  Nine lives were lost in those two states between tornadoes and deadly winds.

Friday the storms moved to the east and visited their destruction on Mississippi and Alabama.  Seven fatalities were recorded including a mother and two of her children.

Mother Nature was not done yet and created an amazing display of storms as the weather system continued on its deadly path on Saturday.  The Carolinas and Virginia were next on the hit list where as many as two dozen people have been killed.

The most destructive tornado struck near Sanford, North Carolina with dozens of homes and businesses reduced to rubble.  A Lowe’s Home Improvement store suffered a direct strike collapsing the front half of the store.  Miraculously no one was killed in the structure.

An untold number of homes and businesses have been destroyed in the severe weather outbreak.  Trees and power lines were toppled and hundreds of injuries recorded.

Slideshow: Severe weather outbreak kills dozens, destroys homes and businessesThe death toll from the three-day severe weather outbreak continues to climb with some accounts pegging the number at 45 or more.  The Storm Prediction Center recorded 230 reports of tornadoes over the period and the event is by far the most extensive and deadly weather event thus far in 2011.

For more on this story visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family when severe weather strikes?  The same type of events that struck in recent days can and do occur in Colorado.  Check out our Severe Weather Awareness series for more: