It was another year of incredible weather extremes unparalleled in American history during 2012. Eleven billion-dollar weather disasters hit the U.S., a figure exceeded only by the fourteen such disasters during the equally insane weather year of 2011. I present for you now the top ten weather stories of 2012, chosen for their meteorological significance and human and economic impact.
Video 1. Hour-by-hour animation of infrared satellite images for 2012. The loop goes in slow-motion to feature such events as Hurricane Sandy, the June Derecho, Summer in March, and other top weather events of 2012. The date stamp is at lower left; you will want to make the animation full screen to see the date. Special thanks to wunderground's Deb Mitchell for putting this together!
1) Superstorm Sandy Hurricane Sandy was truly astounding in its size and power. At its peak size, twenty hours before landfall, Sandy had tropical storm-force winds that covered an area nearly one-fifth the area of the contiguous United States. Sandy's area of ocean with twelve-foot seas peaked at 1.4 million square miles--nearly one-half the area of the contiguous United States, or 1% of Earth's total ocean area. Most incredibly, ten hours before landfall (9:30 am EDT October 29), the total energy of Sandy's winds of tropical storm-force and higher peaked at 329 terajoules--the highest value for any Atlantic hurricane since at least 1969, and equivalent to five Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs. At landfall, Sandy's tropical storm-force winds spanned 943 miles of the the U.S. coast. No hurricane on record has been larger. Sandy's huge size prompted high wind warnings to be posted from Chicago to Eastern Maine, and from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Florida's Lake Okeechobee--an area home to 120 million people. Sandy's winds simultaneously caused damage to buildings on the shores of Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore, and toppled power lines in Nova Scotia, Canada--locations 1200 miles apart! Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, NJ on October 29, with sustained winds of 80 mph and a central minimum pressure of 946 mb--the lowest pressure on record along the Northeast coast. The Battery, in New York City Harbor, had an observed water level of 13.88 feet, besting the previous record set by Hurricane Donna in 1960 by 3 feet. Sandy also brought torrential rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic, with over 12 inches of rain observed in parts of Maryland. In addition, Sandy generated blizzard conditions for the central and southern Appalachians with more than a foot of snow falling in six states from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, shattering October snow records. Over 130 fatalities were reported and over 8.5 million customers lost power--the second largest weather-related power outage in U.S. history, behind the 10 million that lost power during the Blizzard of 1993. Damage from Sandy is estimated at $62 billion.
Figure 1. Cabs lie flooded on October 30, 2012, in Hoboken, NJ, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. AP photo: Charles Sykes.
2) Warmest Year on Record Spring, March, July, and the annual temperature were all warmest on record in the contiguous U.S. July was the warmest month of any month in the 1,400+ months of the U.S. data record, going back to 1895. The spring temperature departure from average was the largest on record for any season, and March temperatures had the second largest warm departure from average of any month in U.S. history. All-time hottest temperature records were set over approximately 7% of the area of the contiguous U.S., according to a database of 298 major U.S. cities maintained by wunderground's weather historian, Christopher C. Burt. Given the very warm December temperatures so far, the final 2012 annual temperature is likely to break the previous warmest year on record (1998) by at least 0.7°F--a colossal margin to break an annual record by. It is likely that 15 states will end up with their warmest year on record in 2012, and 42 states will have a top-ten warmest year.
Figure 2. One of 2012's incredibly hot days: high temperatures on August 1 in Oklahoma from the Oklahoma Mesonet. It was the hottest day in Oklahoma since August 1936, with more than half of the state recording temperatures of 110° or higher. Oklahoma City hit 112°, tied for the city's 3nd highest temperature since record keeping began in 1890. The only hotter days occurred two days later--on August 3, 2012--and back on August 11, 1936 (113°.)
3) The Great Drought of 2012 The Great U.S. Drought of 2012 may well turn out to be the biggest weather story of 2012, since its full impacts have not yet been realized. The area of the contiguous U.S. in moderate or greater drought peaked at 61.8% in July--the largest such area since the Dust Bowl drought of December 1939. The heat and dryness resulted in record or near-record evaporation rates, causing major impact on corn, soybean and wheat belts in addition to livestock production. Drought upstream of the Lower Mississippi River caused record and near-record low stream flows along the river in Mississippi and Louisiana, resulting in limited river transportation and commerce. Crop damages alone from the great drought are estimated at $35 billion. As the total scope of losses is realized across all lines of business in coming months, this number will climb significantly.
Figure 3. Corn in Colby, Kansas withers in the Great Drought of 2012 on May 27. Image credit: Wunderphotographer treeman.
4) Wildfire Season of 2012 The 2012 U.S. fire season was the 3rd worst in U.S. history, with 9.2 million acres burned--an area larger than the state of Maryland. Since the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping records in 1960, only two years have seen more area burned--2006, when 9.9 million acres burned, and 2007, when 9.3 million acres burned. New Mexico had its largest fire in state history, Colorado its most destructive and 2nd largest in state history, and Oregon had its largest fire since the 1860s. More than 3.6 million acres burned in the U.S. during August--the most on record for any August in recorded history.
Figure 4. Wunderphoto of Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire of 2012, the largest fire in New Mexico history. Wunderphoto submitted by AZMountaineer21.
5) March 2 - 3 Tornado Outbreak A massive tornado outbreak of stunning violence swept through the nation's midsection March 2 - 3, spawning deadly tornadoes that killed 41 people. Hardest hit were Kentucky and Southern Indiana, which suffered 22 and 13 dead, respectively. The scale of the outbreak was exceptional, with 70 tornadoes touching down in eleven states, from southern Ohio to southern Georgia. At one point, 31 separate tornado warnings were in effect during the outbreak. An area larger than Nebraska--81,000 square miles--received tornado warnings, and tornado watches were posted for 300,000 square miles--an area larger than Texas. The outbreak spawned two EF-4 tornadoes, one which devastated Henryville, Indiana, and another that plowed through Crittenden, Kentucky. Total damage was estimated at $4 billion.
Figure 5. A school bus mangled by the EF-4 Henryville, Indiana tornado of March 2, 2012. Image credit: NWS Louisville, Kentucky.
6) June 29 Multi-State Derecho A violent line of organized severe thunderstorms called a derecho swept across the U.S. from Illinois to Virginia on June 29, damaging houses, toppling trees, bringing down power lines. The storms killed 22 people, and left at least 3.4 million customers without power. The thunderstorms in a derecho (from the Spanish phrase for "straight ahead") create violent winds that blow in a straight line. The derecho was unusually intense due to extreme heat that set all-time records at ten major cities on the south side of the derecho. This heat helped create an unstable atmosphere with plenty of energy to fuel severe thunderstorms. At least 38 thunderstorms in the derecho generated wind gusts in excess of hurricane force, making the derecho one of the most severe derechoes on record. Total damage was estimated at $3.75 billion.
Figure 6. Turbulent clouds gather over Mettawa, Illinois on June 29, 2012, as the historic 2012 derecho begins to organize. Image credit: Wunderphotographer LarrySmit.
7) Hurricane Isaac Hurricane Isaac slowly lumbered ashore near the mouth of the Mississippi River on August 28 as a Category 1 Hurricane with 80 mph winds. Isaac's large size and slow motion caused a storm surge more characteristic of a Category 2 hurricane--up to eleven feet--but New Orleans' new $14.5 billion levee upgrade held against Isaac's surge. The surge moved up the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish near Port Sulphur, causing overtopping of the levees and flooding of homes in the mandatory evacuation areas behind the levees. These levees were not part of the $14.5 billion levee upgrade. Isaac brought torrential rainfall, with more than twenty inches observed in some areas of New Orleans. Isaac also provided some drought relief to the Lower Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Isaac dumped up to 18" of rain in Florida, and disrupted the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa. Isaac did $2 billion in damage.
Figure 7. Tropical Storm Isaac on August 28, a few hours before it intensified into a hurricane.
8) The Non-Winter of 2011-2012 "Flowers are sprouting in January in New Hampshire, the Sierra Mountains in California are nearly snow-free, and lakes in much of Michigan still have not frozen. It's 2012, and the new year is ringing in another ridiculously wacky winter for the U.S. In Fargo, North Dakota yesterday, the mercury soared to 55°F, breaking a 1908 record for warmest January day in recorded history. More than 99% of North Dakota had no snow on the ground this morning, and over 95% of the country that normally has snow at this time of year had below-average snow cover." That was the opening of my January 6, 2012 blog post, called "Remarkably dry and warm winter due to record extreme jet stream configuration." The contiguous U.S. saw its 3rd lowest snow cover on record during both winter and spring, and the winter of 2011 - 2012 was the 4th warmest and 24th driest winter in U.S. history, going back to 1895. A primary cause of this warm and snowless winter was the most extreme configuration of the jet stream ever recorded, as measured by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO index was +2.52 in December 2011, which was the most extreme difference in pressure between Iceland and the Azores ever observed in December (records of the NAO go back to 1865.) The positive NAO conditions caused the Icelandic Low to draw a strong south-westerly flow of air over eastern North America, preventing Arctic air from plunging southward over the U.S.
Figure 8. Flowers sprouting on January 1, 2012 in Keene, New Hampshire, thanks to unusually warm December temperatures and lack of snow. Image credit: Wunderphotographer lovne32.
9) April 30 - May 1 Severe Weather Outbreak A severe weather outbreak in the Ohio Valley April 30 - May 1 caused 38 tornadoes and $4 billion in damage.
10) Late-Spring Freeze: Northeast/Midwest After the record-warm "Summer in March" weather in the Great Lakes and Northeast, an April freeze damaged crops across the region. New York's fruit production was the lowest since 1948, and it was the worst fruit season for Michigan since 1945. Damage in Michigan alone was estimated at $500 million.
Honorable Mentions (text courtesy of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, with damage estimates from AON Benfield):
Severe Weather Outbreak (May): A strong cold front moving through the country on May 25 - 30 spawned 27 tornadoes from Texas to the Northeast. Damage was estimated at $2.5 billion, much of it from hail.
Severe Weather Outbreak (April): A tornado outbreak on April 13 - 14 in the Plains spawned 98 tornadoes and caused at least 6 fatalities. Damage was estimated at $1.75 billion.
Severe Weather Outbreak (June): Several days of severe storms across the Southwest spawned 25 tornadoes from June 6 - 12. Significant hail damage occurred across the Rocky Mountain Front Range, with total damage estimated at $1.75 billion.
Tropical Storm Debby/Wet Florida (June): Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby in early June caused damage estimated at $310 million, but Debby's rains helped break a drought in Northern Florida. Florida had its wettest summer on record, partially due to Debby.
Duluth Flooding (June): Training thunderstorms caused record flooding in and around Duluth Minnesota on June 20, with over 8 inches of rainfall observed in 24 hours in parts of the city. Two rivers in the Duluth area, the Nemadji and St. Louis, reported their highest flood heights on record. Damage was estimated at $175 million.
Pacific Northwest Winter Storm (January): A massive winter storm impacted the Pacific Northwest on January 18 - 23. Huge amounts of rain and snow fell, and hurricane-force wind gusts knocked out power to 250,000 customers. Damage was estimated at $100 million.
Hawaiian Hail Storm (March): On March 9, a cut-off low pressure system impacted the Hawaiian Islands, bringing heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms. A rare EF-0 tornado hit the towns of Lanikai and Kailua on Oahu, causing minor damage. Another storm dropped a hailstone measuring 4.25 inches long, 2.25 inches tall, and 2 inches wide--the largest hailstone on record for Hawaii. Damage from the storms was estimated at $37 million.
Near-Record Low Great Lakes Levels (by end of 2012): Record warm temperatures throughout 2012 combined with low precipitation and low winter ice cover created high evaporation rates across the Great Lakes. In December, Lakes Michigan and Huron had fallen to within inches of the all-time record low lake levels set back in 1964. Low lake levels have a significant impact on recreational and commercial boating as well as tourism.
Slow Tornado Year (annual): Despite an active March, 2012 saw relatively low tornado numbers compared to recent history.
Mount Evans Tornado (July): A high elevation tornado was observed along the slope of Mount Evans at 11,900 feet--the second highest observed tornado in the U.S.
Alaska Cold Winter/Snow Record (winter): Several Alaskan locations had their coldest January on record. The monthly average temperature at Bettles, AK was -35.6°F. The statewide average January temperature was record cold--14°F below average. Record snow (134.5 inches) fell in Anchorage during the winter season, breaking the previous record set in 1954 - 55.
Alaskan Storms and Flooding (September): Several large extratropical cyclones impacted Alaska during September. Significant flooding occurred along the Sustina River and along its tributaries, causing the worse flooding in 30 years. Over 800 structures and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed. The storms also brought early snowfall to southern portions of the state.
Death Valley sets world record for highest minimum temperature On Thursday morning, July 12, 2012 the low temperature at Death Valley, California dropped to just 107°F (41.7°C), after hitting a high of 128° (53.3°C) the previous day. Not only did the morning low temperature tie a record for the world's warmest low temperature ever recorded, the average temperature of 117.5°F was the world's warmest 24-hour temperature on record. According to weather records researcher Maximiliano Herrera, the only other place in the world to record a 107°F low temperature was Khasab Airport in the desert nation of Oman on June 27, 2012.
NOAA's National Climatic Data Center will release their top-ten list of U.S. weather events of 2012 on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.
Have a great holiday, everyone! I'll be back on December 26 with a new post.
Quoting Minnemike: you're addressing the wrong shoes by claiming others to be overly sensitive. if desiring a tornado come at 'the proverbial you', that is immaturity, a very basic concept as well. so what.. some are immature and can't recognize others' personal experiences with disaster. i'm reading by your words, that you must be claiming to Not desire destruction.. so then i wasn't addressing you. but are you in fact desiring tornadoes? because they destroy, in which case, your private delineation by means of defensiveness would also be deemed immature. one can be an enthusiast, and desire no storms.. which is a mature, not so easy thing to do.. it requires complexity and understanding of all involved. just because you've personally reconciled this issue does not settle it for others.. i think it's worth continued addressing as long as folks are wishcasting destruction among a community of those affected by any number of similar disasters in their lives. that's why i cite respect. that's why i call out immaturity. to those whom my comments apply; own up to it, and grow up -time permitting.
i have a few very active, higher profile storm chaser friends who i've discussed this topic extensively with, and i can tell you they have a far more mature relationship with their desire to capture tornadoes on film, than those perspectives i'm encountering in this forum at times. considering unfolding events at this moment, i find this to be a pertinent subject.
I want the storm, not necessarily the destruction. Seeing the destruction is always amazing, but the aftermath not so much. I don't want anybody or their property to be damaged
Member Since: February 11, 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 7163
DOOM:CON shall not be activated until Hurricane season,
If we were at DOOM:CON 1 setting, the blog would already be on 7,000 comments.
DOOM:CON hit it's highest scale in September 2008, when Dr. Steve Lyons predicted that Ike could make landfall in SE Florida as a Category 5 hurricane. THAT was a 'fun' day to be on WU, I can assure you of that.
OK. Take us to TOR:CON 1
Member Since: June 18, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 176
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 1057 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS... THIS INCLUDES...WILDWOOD...THICKET...SARATOGA...KOUNTZE ... SOUTHERN TYLER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS... THIS INCLUDES...WOODVILLE...WARREN...
* UNTIL 1130 AM CST
* AT 1057 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...FROM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF WOODVILLE TO 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THICKET...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... THICKET AND BATSON BY 1105 AM CST... WARREN AND SARATOGA BY 1110 AM CST... WILDWOOD AND HONEY ISLAND BY 1115 AM CST... VILLAGE MILLS AND KOUNTZE BY 1120 AM CST...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH... DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN. STAY INDOORS... AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111503
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1054 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
TXC291-251715- /O.CON.KHGX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-121225T1715Z/ LIBERTY TX- 1054 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM CST FOR NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY...
AT 1050 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
AT 1048 A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A VERY LARGE PINE TREE DOWN 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND.
THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
Quoting Minnemike: you're addressing the wrong shoes by claiming others to be overly sensitive. if desiring a tornado come at 'the proverbial you', that is immaturity, a very basic concept as well. so what.. some are immature and can't recognize others' personal experiences with disaster. i'm reading by your words, that you must be claiming to Not desire destruction.. so then i wasn't addressing you. but are you in fact desiring tornadoes? because they destroy, in which case, your private delineation by means of defensiveness would also be deemed immature. one can be an enthusiast, and desire no storms.. which is a mature, not so easy thing to do.. it requires complexity and understanding of all involved. just because you've personally reconciled this issue does not settle it for others.. i think it's worth continued addressing as long as folks are wishcasting destruction among a community of those affected by any number of similar disasters in their lives. that's why i cite respect. that's why i call out immaturity. to those whom my comments apply; own up to it, and grow up -time permitting.
i have a few very active, higher profile storm chaser friends who i've discussed this topic extensively with, and i can tell you they have a far more mature relationship with their desire to capture tornadoes on film, than those perspectives i'm encountering in this forum at times. considering unfolding events at this moment, i find this to be a pertinent subject.
You are needlessly complicating the issue. I don't think wanting storms and sympathizing with others is mutually exclusive like so many people seem to think it is. But I'm beginning to think the opposition will never be able to understand without sharing an identical mindset. Talking only goes so far.
No, I don't desire destruction, but I do desire storms. If you think that makes me or anyone else immature, that is certainly your prerogative. I beg to differ, but you are entitled to your opinion, however much I disagree with it. I'd wager your storm chaser buddies want storms too, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to intercept them.
Humans are inherently drawn to calamity and death. All we hear on the news is how "School kid A was shot by school kid B in random US city". How often do we hear anything positive? Why do you think that is? Because no matter who admits it, we are drawn to tragedy. You don't have to enjoy tragedy to be drawn to it, but this is an undeniable part of human psychology. Otherwise, the media would not play on it. There are some aspects of oneself that cannot be changed. Intense fascination with disaster is one of them.
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 409 Comments: 15445
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM CST FOR NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY...
AT 1050 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
AT 1048 A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A VERY LARGE PINE TREE DOWN 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND.
THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY.
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426
MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 2209 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1102 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
AREAS AFFECTED...SWRN/W-CNTRL/S-CNTRL OK...WRN NORTH TX
CONCERNING...BLIZZARD
VALID 251702Z - 252100Z
SUMMARY...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS SWRN/W-CNTRL/S-CNTRL OK...AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AROUND 22-23Z. NLY WINDS OF 25-35 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 40-45 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1-1.5 IN/HR TO GENERATE NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
DISCUSSION...LATEST SFC MESOANALYSIS AND OK MESONET OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE TIGHT SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT AND STRENGTH OF THE LOW-LEVEL FLOW ARE TRENDING STRONGER THAN THE BULK OF SHORT-RANGE MODEL GUIDANCE. WITH CONTINUED DEEPENING OF AN E-TX SFC LOW...LOW-LEVEL FLOW WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN. THIS IS SUGGESTED BY RAPID-REFRESH FORECAST SOUNDINGS...WHICH DEPICT 0-1-KM MEAN FLOW INCREASING TO ABOVE 40 KT DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. INCREASING DIFFERENTIAL COLD ADVECTION AND DECREASING STATIC STABILITY IN THE LOWEST KILOMETER AGL WILL ALLOW THIS FLOW TO BE MANIFESTED AT THE SFC AS SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25-35 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 40-45 MPH. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1-1.5 IN/HR...AS ADDRESSED IN MESOSCALE DISCUSSION NUMBER 2208...TO GENERATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WITH NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES AND WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. QUARTER-MILE VISIBILITIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED AT CLINTON OK WITH 30 KT SUSTAINED WINDS GUSTING TO 38 KT...AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS/SNOW SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH AROUND 22-23Z. ACCORDINGLY...THIS BLIZZARD MESOSCALE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ISSUED UPON COORDINATION WITH THE NORMAN OK WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE.
..COHEN.. 12/25/2012
Member Since: July 21, 2011 Posts: 60 Comments: 3892
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1112 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR... EXTREME EAST CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS... SOUTHEASTERN LIBERTY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS... EXTREME NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
* UNTIL 1200 PM CST
* AT 1107 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BARRETT...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MONT BELVIEU...CROSBY...OLD RIVER-WINFREE...AMES AND DEVERS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25314
Hope everyone stays safe. A bad day out there. Our lights have already gone off and on and it's sunny here ahead of that line but the wind is gusting crazily.
Member Since: August 24, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 3884
Shawn Reynolds @WCL_Shawn Getting reports of a weather related death in Harris County, TX. Person may have died after getting pinned by large pine tree. #TXwx
Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25314
UPDATED ZONES FOR ISSUANCE OF WIND ADVISORY...GENERALLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 55 IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. SEEING GUSTS OF 30-35 KNOTS IN SOME AREAS WHERE SUNSHINE HAS BROKEN OUT. RAN IT UNTIL 00Z FOR NOW...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS FOR POTENTIAL EXTENSION BEHIND FRONTAL PASSAGE. WILL CONTINUE WITH SEVERE WEATHER THREAT AS CONVECTIVE LINE APPEARS TO BE GETTING ITS ACT TOGETHER IN EXTREME EASTERN TEXAS. THIS LINE SHOULD TRANSLATE EASTWARD RATHER QUICKLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
Waiting for a full update.
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 409 Comments: 15445
Quoting AtHomeInTX: Hope everyone stays safe. A bad day out there. Our lights have already gone off and on and it's sunny here ahead of that line but the wind is gusting crazily.
a thats the GOM rtn flow within the next hr or so the long track show begins
TAKE HEED TO ALL WARNINGS !!!
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40559
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Shawn Reynolds @WCL_Shawn Getting reports of a weather related death in Harris County, TX. Person may have died after getting pinned by large pine tree. #TXwx
I was afraid of this.
Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 409 Comments: 15445
Quoting KoritheMan: > No, I don't desire destruction, but I do desire storms. If you think that makes me or anyone else immature, that is certainly your prerogative. I beg to differ, but you are entitled to your opinion, however much I disagree with it. I'd wager your storm chaser buddies want storms too, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to intercept them.
i provided text in my statements for you to identify yourself as outside of my charge regarding this. you have indicated that you are not among those who do desire destruction. your comments are not the only ones present worth addressing, so consider yourself beyond the purview of my labeling. my words go out to the community though, not you alone. my chaser buddies just put together a video of their footage, proceeds solely dedicated to assisting victims of tornadoes. they have a passion, and they pursue it. they tear themselves apart from the inside when they witness destruction, and they are some of the most conflicted individuals i know due to the pain they experience by way of their dedicated passion. i don't see that reflected here, and you can bet they're not on forums publicly praying for tornadoes. so there, you've washed your hands of it. let my words find their way to those frustrated by seeing some 'wishes', and to those wishing for it.
Member Since: July 31, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1257
Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.
About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.
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I want the storm, not necessarily the destruction.
Seeing the destruction is always amazing, but the aftermath not so much. I don't want anybody or their property to be damaged
If I had a nickel for every time someone mistook my morbid sense of humor for something deeper, I'd be richer than Bill Gates.
Lighten up. Everyone here knows I like to make light of very serious situations. And if they don't, they soon will.
Collision
OK. Take us to TOR:CON 1
WUUS54 KLCH 251657
SVRLCH
TXC199-457-251730-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0099.121225T1657Z-121225T1730Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1057 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
THIS INCLUDES...WILDWOOD...THICKET...SARATOGA...KOUNTZE ...
SOUTHERN TYLER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
THIS INCLUDES...WOODVILLE...WARREN...
* UNTIL 1130 AM CST
* AT 1057 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...FROM 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF WOODVILLE TO 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THICKET...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
THICKET AND BATSON BY 1105 AM CST...
WARREN AND SARATOGA BY 1110 AM CST...
WILDWOOD AND HONEY ISLAND BY 1115 AM CST...
VILLAGE MILLS AND KOUNTZE BY 1120 AM CST...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN. STAY INDOORS...
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1054 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
TXC291-251715-
/O.CON.KHGX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-121225T1715Z/
LIBERTY TX-
1054 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM CST FOR NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY...
AT 1050 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
AT 1048 A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A VERY LARGE PINE TREE DOWN 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND.
THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
LAT...LON 3011 9504 3027 9507 3042 9471 3018 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 1650Z 247DEG 47KT 3022 9497
You are needlessly complicating the issue. I don't think wanting storms and sympathizing with others is mutually exclusive like so many people seem to think it is. But I'm beginning to think the opposition will never be able to understand without sharing an identical mindset. Talking only goes so far.
No, I don't desire destruction, but I do desire storms. If you think that makes me or anyone else immature, that is certainly your prerogative. I beg to differ, but you are entitled to your opinion, however much I disagree with it. I'd wager your storm chaser buddies want storms too, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to intercept them.
Humans are inherently drawn to calamity and death. All we hear on the news is how "School kid A was shot by school kid B in random US city". How often do we hear anything positive? Why do you think that is? Because no matter who admits it, we are drawn to tragedy. You don't have to enjoy tragedy to be drawn to it, but this is an undeniable part of human psychology. Otherwise, the media would not play on it. There are some aspects of oneself that cannot be changed. Intense fascination with disaster is one of them.
Sigh..
It's been clear here for like the last three hours.
but Convective inhibition is decreasing:
NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY...
AT 1050 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 11
MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
AT 1048 A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A VERY LARGE PINE TREE DOWN 8
MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND.
THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY.
MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 2209
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1102 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
AREAS AFFECTED...SWRN/W-CNTRL/S-CNTRL OK...WRN NORTH TX
CONCERNING...BLIZZARD
VALID 251702Z - 252100Z
SUMMARY...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS
SWRN/W-CNTRL/S-CNTRL OK...AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AROUND 22-23Z.
NLY WINDS OF 25-35 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 40-45 MPH WILL COMBINE
WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1-1.5 IN/HR TO GENERATE NEAR-ZERO
VISIBILITIES AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
DISCUSSION...LATEST SFC MESOANALYSIS AND OK MESONET OBSERVATIONS
SUGGEST THAT THE TIGHT SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT AND STRENGTH OF THE
LOW-LEVEL FLOW ARE TRENDING STRONGER THAN THE BULK OF SHORT-RANGE
MODEL GUIDANCE. WITH CONTINUED DEEPENING OF AN E-TX SFC
LOW...LOW-LEVEL FLOW WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN. THIS IS SUGGESTED BY
RAPID-REFRESH FORECAST SOUNDINGS...WHICH DEPICT 0-1-KM MEAN FLOW
INCREASING TO ABOVE 40 KT DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. INCREASING
DIFFERENTIAL COLD ADVECTION AND DECREASING STATIC STABILITY IN THE
LOWEST KILOMETER AGL WILL ALLOW THIS FLOW TO BE MANIFESTED AT THE
SFC AS SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25-35 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 40-45
MPH. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1-1.5
IN/HR...AS ADDRESSED IN MESOSCALE DISCUSSION NUMBER 2208...TO
GENERATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WITH NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITIES AND
WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. QUARTER-MILE VISIBILITIES HAVE
ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED AT CLINTON OK WITH 30 KT SUSTAINED WINDS
GUSTING TO 38 KT...AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE
AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS/SNOW SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH
AROUND 22-23Z. ACCORDINGLY...THIS BLIZZARD MESOSCALE DISCUSSION HAS
BEEN ISSUED UPON COORDINATION WITH THE NORMAN OK WEATHER FORECAST
OFFICE.
..COHEN.. 12/25/2012
SW mid-level flow from the Mexican Plateau often cause cap issues here in SETX, but the incoming trough is eroding it very fast.
Galveston TX has tied its record high of 73 for today, a sign of how warm and unstable it is.
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1112 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EXTREME EAST CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
SOUTHEASTERN LIBERTY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
* UNTIL 1200 PM CST
* AT 1107 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED
NEAR BARRETT...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MONT BELVIEU...CROSBY...OLD RIVER-WINFREE...AMES AND DEVERS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
Getting reports of a weather related death in Harris County, TX. Person may have died after getting pinned by large pine tree. #TXwx
.UPDATE...
UPDATED ZONES FOR ISSUANCE OF WIND ADVISORY...GENERALLY WEST OF
INTERSTATE 55 IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. SEEING GUSTS OF 30-35 KNOTS
IN SOME AREAS WHERE SUNSHINE HAS BROKEN OUT. RAN IT UNTIL 00Z FOR
NOW...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS FOR POTENTIAL EXTENSION BEHIND
FRONTAL PASSAGE. WILL CONTINUE WITH SEVERE WEATHER THREAT AS
CONVECTIVE LINE APPEARS TO BE GETTING ITS ACT TOGETHER IN EXTREME
EASTERN TEXAS. THIS LINE SHOULD TRANSLATE EASTWARD RATHER QUICKLY
DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
Waiting for a full update.
TAKE HEED TO ALL WARNINGS !!!
I was afraid of this.
Here in NW Harris, it was until the front cleared us. Temp has dropped very quickly since then.
my chaser buddies just put together a video of their footage, proceeds solely dedicated to assisting victims of tornadoes. they have a passion, and they pursue it. they tear themselves apart from the inside when they witness destruction, and they are some of the most conflicted individuals i know due to the pain they experience by way of their dedicated passion. i don't see that reflected here, and you can bet they're not on forums publicly praying for tornadoes.
so there, you've washed your hands of it. let my words find their way to those frustrated by seeing some 'wishes', and to those wishing for it.
Oh my
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