Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

2011: Year of the Tornado

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 7:25 PM GMT on December 27, 2011

+45

The year 2011 will forever be known as Year of the Tornado in the U.S. A series of violent severe storms swept across the Plains and Southeast U.S., bringing an astonishing six billion-dollar disasters in a three-month period. The epic tornado onslaught killed 552 people and caused $25 billion in damage. Three of the five largest tornado outbreaks on record hit in a six-week period, including the largest and most expensive tornado outbreak in U.S. history--the $10.2 billion dollar Southeast U.S. Super Outbreak, April 25 - 28. Even more stunning was the $9 billion late-May tornado outbreak that brought an EF-5 tornado to Joplin, Missouri. The Joplin tornado did $3 billion in damage and killed 158 people--the largest death toll from a U.S. tornado since 1947, seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history, and the most expensive tornado in world history. In a year of amazing weather extremes, this year's tornado season ranks as the top U.S. weather story of 2011.

Video 1. Remarkable video of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 27, 2011. Fast forward to minute four to see the worst of the storm.

Figure 1. A truly frightening radar image: multiple hook echoes from at least ten supercell thunderstorms cover Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee during the height of the April 27, 2011 Super Outbreak. A multi-hour animation is available here.

A record six EF-5 tornadoes confirmed in 2011
Six top-end EF-5 tornadoes hit the U.S. in 2011, tying this year with 1974 for the greatest number of these most destructive tornadoes. The EF-5 tornadoes of 2011:

1) The April 27, 2011 Neshoba/Kemper/Winston/Noxubee Counties, Mississippi tornado (3 killed, 29 mile path length.)

2) The April 27, 2011 Smithville, Mississippi tornado (22 killed, 15 mile path length.)

3) The April 27, 2011 Hackleburg, Alabama tornado (71 killed, 25 mile path length.)

4) The April 27, 2011 Rainsville/Dekalb County, Alabama tornado (26 killed, 34 mile path length.)

5) The May 22, 2011 Joplin Missouri tornado (158 killed, 14 mile path length.)

6) The May 24, 2011 Binger-El Reno-Peidmont-Guthrie, Oklahoma tornado. (9 killed, 75 mile path length.)

Figure 2. Aerial view of damage from the May 22, 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado. Image credit: Wikipedia.

Figure 3. EF-5 damage from the April 27, 2011 Neshoba tornado in Mississippi. The tornado was so powerful that it dug out the ground to a depth of two feet over an area 25 - 50 yards wide and several hundred yards long. Image credit: NWS.

A few other remarkable statistics on the tornado season of 2011, compiled from NOAA's official press release, the NOAA Extreme Weather 2011 page, and Wikipedia's excellent tornado pages:

- The tornado death toll of 552 in 2011 ties 1936 as the second deadliest year for tornadoes in U.S. history. Only 1925, with 794 fatalities, was deadlier. In 1936, violent tornadoes hit Tupelo Mississippi (216 killed), and Gainesville, Georgia (203 killed.) During the 1930s, the tornado death rate per million people was 60 - 70 times as great as in the year 2000 (Figure 4), implying that this year's tornadoes may have killed tens of thousands of people if we did not have our modern tornado modern warning system.

Figure 4. Death rate per million people per year in U.S., 1875-2011. Thin line with dots is raw rate, curved thick line is death rate, filtered by 3-point median and 5-point running mean filter, and straight solid lines are least squares fit to filtered death rate for 1875-1925 and 1925-2011. Dashed lines are estimates of 10th and 90th percentile death rates from 1925-2000. The death rate fell from 8 per million to .12 per million between 1940 and 2010. Image credit: A Brief History of Deaths from Tornadoes in the United States, Harold Brooks and Charles Doswell III, and updated by Harold Brooks in 2011.

- April 2011 had the most tornadoes of any month in U.S. history--753. The previous record was 542, set in May 2003. The previous busiest April was in 1974, with 267 tornadoes. The average number of tornadoes for the month of April during the past decade was 161, and the 30-year average for April tornadoes was 135.

- On April 27, 199 confirmed tornadoes touched down. This is the largest 1-day tornado total on record, beating the 148 recorded in 24 hours on April 3 - 4, 1974.

The year 2011 now has three of the top five tornado outbreaks on record (note, though, that reliable records for number of tornadoes only extend back in time to about the early 1990s):

- The April 25 - 28, 2011 Super tornado outbreak, with 343 tornadoes, is now the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The previous record (3 days or less duration) was 148 tornadoes, set during the April 3 - 4, 1974 Super Outbreak.

- The May 22 - 27, 2011 tornado outbreak, with 180 confirmed tornadoes, ranks as the 4th largest 6-day or shorter tornado outbreak on record. A May 2003 6-day outbreak had 289 tornadoes, and a May 2004 6-day outbreak had 229 tornadoes.

- The April 14 - 16, 2011 tornado outbreak, with 177 confirmed tornadoes, ranks as the second largest tornado outbreak of three days or less duration on record, and 5th largest outbreak of six or fewer days duration.

- The May 22, 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado killed 158 people and injured 1150, making it the deadliest U.S. tornado since 1947, and 7th deadliest in history. The $3 billion estimate of insured damage makes it the most expensive tornado in world history.

- Preliminary damage estimates from Munich Re insurance company put 2011's insured losses due to U.S. thunderstorms and tornadoes at $25 billion, more than double the previous record set in 2010.

- The year 2011 now ranks in 2nd place behind 1973 for greatest number of tornadoes greater than EF-0 strength (EF-1, EF-2, EF-3, EF-4 and EF-5 strength, Figure 5.)

Figure 5. Number of EF-1, EF-2, EF-3, EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes from 1950 to 2011. The total shown for 2011 is preliminary and uses unofficial numbers through November 17, but 2011 now ranks in 2nd place behind 1973. There is not a decades-long increasing trend in the numbers of tornadoes stronger than EF-0, implying that climate change, as yet, is not having a noticeable impact on U.S. tornadoes. However, statistics of tornado frequency and intensity are highly uncertain. Major changes in the rating process occurred in the mid-1970s (when all tornadoes occurring prior to about 1975 were retrospectively rated), and again in 2001, when scientists began rating tornadoes lower because of engineering concerns and unintended consequences of National Weather Service policy changes. Also, beginning in 2007, NOAA switched from the F-scale to the EF-scale for rating tornado damage, causing additional problems with attempting to assess if tornadoes are changing over time. Data provided by Harold Brooks, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Other posts looking back at the remarkable weather events of 2011
Deadliest weather disaster of 2011: the East African drought
Tropical Storm Lee's flood in Binghamton: was global warming the final straw?
Wettest year on record in Philadelphia; 2011 sets record for wet/dry extremes in U.S.
Hurricane Irene: New York City dodges a potential storm surge mega-disaster

The NWS posted a summary of the records set during the tornado season of 2011 in February 2012.

Jeff Masters

Joplin Tornado Damage (thebige)

Tornado - Pine Apple,AL (EarlBcom)

Tornado just south of Pine Apple, AL on around 5:40pm. This storm was a part of the Alabama tornado outbreak on April 15, 2011. earlb.com VIDEO - See video of tornado at earlb.com

As Is (teach50)

My husband and I were visiting my parents in Birmingham, Alabama. We decided to take a day trip to Tuscaloosa to see the damage from the April 27 tornado. It was a sight that I will never forget. Blocks and blocks of flattened houses and stores. This area has not been touched in 2 months. It was so moving that I started to cry thinking of all these poor people.

Categories: Tornado Extreme Weather

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451. Chicklit 3:40 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Wow. Feel like I've just been streaked! Happy New Year everyone. Great link of the PBS end of weather year summary. img src=" Watch How 2011 Became a 'Mind-Boggling' Year of Extreme Weather on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour."> Member Since: July 11, 2006 Posts: 14 Comments: 10255

452. sunlinepr 3:40 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Alaska volcano erupts, sends ash cloud 15,000 feet into sky Alaska Dispatch \| Dec 29, 2011 An ash cloud erupted some 15,000 feet into the air from Alaska's Cleveland Volcano, according to satellite images and the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The volcano, located in the Aleutian Islands about 45 miles west of the community of Nikolski, has been upgraded and downgraded several times over the last few months, flaring up in July and erupting in the form of a growing lava dome in August. Following several weeks of activity, the volcano was downgraded before being upgraded again to an alert level of "watch" and an aviation hazard color-code of "orange" in early September. Two months later, the alert level was again lowered after the volcano seemed to quiet down. This latest activity comes six days after the most recent update on the AVO website. The AVO said that satellite imagery from about 5 a.m. Thursday confirmed the presence of a detached ash cloud, about 50 miles away from the volcano and moving southeast. The last significant eruption of Cleveland occurred in February 2001 and resulted in three ash plumes that reached up to 39,000 feet above sea level and "a rubbly lava flow and hot avalanche that reached the sea." Aviators in the area are encouraged to exercise caution, but the AVO said that the eruption may be an isolated event. "Satellite data indicate that this is a single explosion event," the AVO said, "however, more sudden explosions producing ash could occur with plumes exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level. Such explosions and their associated ash clouds may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours." Cleveland volcano lacks any real-time monitoring equipment. Member Since: August 2, 2010 Posts: 19 Comments: 8447

453. wunderweatherman123 3:41 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
havent been on in about a month guys whats up i see we got ourselves a hurricane making landfall in southern india pretty impressive storm i see la nina refuses to go away: Member Since: August 23, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 833

454. SPLbeater 3:47 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
TC Thane is now Cyclone Thane. 65 knots as of 0300Z Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

456. SPLbeater 3:53 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: That's harsh, don't you think? I mean yeah, the blog has definitely well downhill and bad, but blaming Dr. Masters isn't right. However, I would vouch for the administrative problems. They ban the good people for little reasons while the actual bad ones are running amok. It's a shame too, the blog used to be a wonderful place to come to. and i never got to be in it:( Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

457. Chicklit 3:57 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
If they think it's so bad then what are they still doing here, checking it out and posting?! Good grief. Things are the way they always were. Follow the rules and you're okay; ignore the rules and you're not. Simple as that. Anyway, I enjoy coming on here and reading the comments, adding my own when I feel like it. Dr. Masters does not deserve that condemnation. Practice discipline and show restraint. Obviously, those are problems for the person posting the eff message. Anyway, I have enjoyed checking out this blog for years. It's only the crybabies and trolls that bother me, but that's what the "ignore" option is for. Happy New Year. Member Since: July 11, 2006 Posts: 14 Comments: 10255

458. yqt1001 4:05 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Nostalgia dominates people's opinions. Old members nearly always look back at the old times and say "those were great times"/"those were better times" no matter how bad it was. Member Since: November 19, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 1184

459. j2008 4:10 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: That's harsh, don't you think? I mean yeah, the blog has definitely well downhill and bad, but blaming Dr. Masters isn't right. However, I would vouch for the administrative problems. They ban the good people for little reasons while the actual bad ones are running amok. It's a shame too, the blog used to be a wonderful place to come to. I remember the days..... oh the good ol days, LOL as soon as I started to post on here this year things started really getting bad. Too many people bashing the blog thats why I stoped posting as often, I got sick of it. Hopefully next year we can all restore this blog to its former glory when we used to share weather info left and right like what a weather blog is supposed to be. Great to see your still here TA13, is Grothar still around? Member Since: December 19, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 204

460. SPLbeater 4:12 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
hey TropicalAnalyistwx13...ya know wat!? You really got me addicted to that NWS Hotseat game....lol Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

462. Terradad 4:20 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Grothar had a comment earlier on this blog, I believe - try going back a few pages. Member Since: December 21, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 73

463. TropicalAnalystwx13 4:22 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting j2008: I remember the days..... oh the good ol days, LOL as soon as I started to post on here this year things started really getting bad. Too many people bashing the blog thats why I stoped posting as often, I got sick of it. Hopefully next year we can all restore this blog to its former glory when we used to share weather info left and right like what a weather blog is supposed to be. Great to see your still here TA13, is Grothar still around? Yes, Grothar is here quiet often actually. Quoting SPLbeater: hey TropicalAnalyistwx13...ya know wat!? You really got me addicted to that NWS Hotseat game....lol Lol, it is a fun game but it needs more scenarios. I requested them to add the 2010 Super Outbreak scenario to the game, not sure if they will add anything though. Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25360

464. SPLbeater 4:25 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Lol, it is a fun game but it needs more scenarios. I requested them to add the 2010 Super Outbreak scenario to the game, not sure if they will add anything though. yeah, i would like to have April 16th added. then i could isses a tornado warning for the cell that destroyed my Lowe's! Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

465. j2008 4:26 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: Yes, Grothar is here quiet often actually. I guess I will have to come visit the blog more often. Good to know. Member Since: December 19, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 204

466. Neapolitan 4:28 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
According to Alexa, this is currently the 177th most popular website in the U.S. (and that ranking is much higher in the heart of hurricane season and during severe weather events). That makes it a very valuable property. As such, there's absolutely no reason WU's admins should allow wannabe competitors to freely use WU's high rankings to drive traffic to their little sites--especially when doing so is expressly forbidden in this site's terms of use. Member Since: November 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11175

467. shoreacres 4:28 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
It might be time for a refresher course in the WU terms of service. 4. Monitoring WUI shall have the right in its sole discretion to refuse to post or remove any material submitted to or posted on the site... You may not use the Site and/or the discussion forums to advertise or sell a product or service, or to advertise or direct activity to other websites. Subject to WUI's policies regarding privacy, all e-mails, messages, postings, ideas, suggestions, concepts or other ideas or materials submitted will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary and may be used freely thereafter by WUI for any purposes it deems appropriate... Member Since: October 4, 2004 Posts: 195 Comments: 14800

468. Minnemike 4:32 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
how ironic the messenger of 'better vibes' should be grandstanding with ye grand ole finger flying high. huh. i've been around since '08 i think.. will know when i post ;) i've seen it get pretty bad here, but i think it'll be alright. there's so much interest on the topics at hand, and as long as the blog tools and rules of the road are used, and some key folks stick with us, i'll be sticking around. fortunately for me, i know far less than some and will always have something to learn.. but imagine if i were an expert i'd seek a more tropics focused forum. Member Since: July 31, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1257

469. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:32 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
good blog doc record year it has been for sure and to think we are yet to see much much more its far from over yet 2012 is yet to come as we say so long to 2011 its done Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670

470. Patrap 4:35 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
IO062011 - Tropical Cyclone (>64 kt) THANE Storm Relative 1km Geostationary Visible Imagery Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 372 Comments: 111641

471. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 4:39 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting scooster67: If Doctor M is not responsible for the censorship than who is? He is the founder and author! What is he above reproach? Really!! Changing content in private Emails!!! Really!!! we are free as long as we do exactly as we are told if not then we give up that freedom thats the plain and simple truth in the world we live in today Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670

472. ShenValleyFlyFish 4:45 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting yqt1001: Nostalgia dominates people's opinions. Old members nearly always look back at the old times and say "those were great times"/"those were better times" no matter how bad it was. My ddD (dear departed Dad)used to say: "The Good Old Days are back when everybody used to say, 'These hard times have got to quit and things have got to get better.'" Member Since: September 9, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 4684

473. ShenValleyFlyFish 4:59 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE: we are free as long as we do exactly as we are told if not then we give up that freedom thats the plain and simple truth in the world we live in today Same as it Ever Was Member Since: September 9, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 4684

474. hcubed 5:05 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13: That's harsh, don't you think? I mean yeah, the blog has definitely well downhill and bad, but blaming Dr. Masters isn't right. However, I would vouch for the administrative problems. They ban the good people for little reasons while the actual bad ones are running amok. It's a shame too, the blog used to be a wonderful place to come to. Add to that the ability of admins to "clear the slate" of the "multi-minus" CERTAIN members get, and it makes the "rating" system useless. Member Since: May 18, 2007 Posts: 286 Comments: 1639

475. KoritheMan 5:09 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting hcubed: Add to that the ability of admins to "clear the slate" of the "multi-minus" CERTAIN members get, and it makes the "rating" system useless. I've known for awhile how useless this site's administration is. Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 411 Comments: 15475

476. SPLbeater 5:25 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Does anybody here play chess? i know this is completely random, but was wonderin if im the only one here.. Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

477. HadesGodWyvern 5:25 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
India Meteorological Department Tropical Cyclone Advisory #34 SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM THANE (BOB05-2011) 8:30 AM IST December 30 2011 =================================== SUBJECT: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "THANE" Crossed coast. At 3:00 AM UTC, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Thane over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry at around 0630 and 0730 AM IST (1:00 and 2:00 AM UTC). It then continued to move westwards and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. Severe Cyclonic Storm Thane lays centered near 11.8N 79.5E about 30 Km west of Cuddalore and 35 Km southwest of Puducherry. The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further. The maximum gale wind speed of 65-75 knots has been reported over Puducherry and Cuddalore observatories of IMD. Member Since: May 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36691

478. hcubed 5:26 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting KoritheMan: I've known for awhile how useless this site's administration is. Better watch out - you'll be the next to have their posts disappear... Member Since: May 18, 2007 Posts: 286 Comments: 1639

479. KoritheMan 5:33 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting hcubed: Better watch out - you'll be the next to have their posts disappear... Thanks, but the worse that could happen is to have all of my blogs disappear. I really don't care about my account since I can just make another one. Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 411 Comments: 15475

480. hcubed 5:38 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting KoritheMan: Thanks, but the worse that could happen is to have all of my blogs disappear. I really don't care about my account since I can just make another one. That's some of the problem - the ease that another account can be made up. Member Since: May 18, 2007 Posts: 286 Comments: 1639

481. AtHomeInTX 5:42 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting trunkmonkey: I don't doubt there is a terrible drought, but I doubted the fiqers from this site, I remember watching several years ago of the drought in Florida, it was raining 2 to 3 inches every day, lake Okeechobee was seeing dirt for many weeks. After the rains started I talked to many friends in Florida, the said all the rivers and lakes were full, but this site said Florida was in severe drought, Lake Okeechobee was about 85% full, yet this site said severe drought. I looked at Beaumont Texas rain data for the last 30 days, the've had over 10" of rain. I don't know what the lake levels, since I don't know anyone that lives around there. I went to Port Author Tx for Hurricane Ike, lots of flooding then. Yes it is hard to tell who actually got the rain. Beaumont/Port Arthur, or Jefferson County, has seemed to have gotten a lot more than my county, Orange, right next to it. We were classified as about 50-50 extreme/exceptional drought until this last thing came out. Now they've moved us into the extreme category. Which does not tell the whole tale either. Because here at my house has barely gotten any rain compared to places north and west of here. But I was a little surprised when I went to Cameron Parish and their ponds were full. Looking at that drought index I wouldn't have thought that. Then again that may have been just where I was looking. So yes it isn't perfect. But there is definitely a severe drought in Texas. Our East Texas lakes are down but creeping back up. Out west the lakes are dried or drying up. And another hot dry summer is not something I'm looking forward to. And yes, we flood royally with the canes. Although, the Jeff Co. levee held during Ike. We don't have one. BIG MISTAKE. Unfortunately hurricanes are our major drought enders. Rita erased a 15" deficit in minutes. We're about twice that low now. UGH! I just hope that pressure dome takes a hike for the summer. Member Since: August 24, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 3890

483. KoritheMan 6:27 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting hcubed: That's some of the problem - the ease that another account can be made up. Agreed. Member Since: March 7, 2007 Posts: 411 Comments: 15475

484. SPLbeater 6:33 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Jeff Masters himself said he rarely edits and deletes comments, its the other admins probably. but if the Admins arent solving your problems with other bloggers then just persist with reporting, and ignore them. Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

485. SPLbeater 6:39 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting Seawall: Yep, you are right. And, it's been that way, and getting worse all the time. The bad part - they don't even try to hide it. The really bad part - there are a lot of good and knowledgeable folks on here, but you have to wade through a lot to find them. A lot of people have been forced out - good dependable people. People with a lot of weather knowledge, particularly tropical weather knowledge have left. Who could blame them? When I joined WU in 2001, it was a very informative site - later, this blog came along, and I became a paid member. Still am. Great info to be had until something happened - not sure what, but the tropical weather info gradually degraded; especially the past year or two. Masters changed the tone of the blog into one of an AGW argue fest. Admins - can someone answer, why in the world would a website feel so threatened by another website that they would ban the website's name in emails? Sure - member's private emails are Proprietary here. (Oh wait, why are they private then? LOL) So you basically pay ten bucks a year to be monitored? Not to be able to speak freely? Say what you want in an email? It appears Dr. Masters has lost touch with his blog. It's his name on the top.... but unfortunately he has allowed others to control his thoughts. And, attempt to control other people's thoughts by allowing some posts to be viewed, and some not. No rhyme, nor any reason to the attempted level of control here. I'm just a "grunt" here - but I'm a paying grunt. I didn't pay to be a member of an AGW site. I paid because Masters falsely portrayed this blog as a Tropical Weather blog. That is no longer the case. I suppose WU doesn't come with a "Money Back" guarantee. Since you can't place the name of a competing website in a private email here... I wonder if the sites name is banned in a post? Let's try. It's Weather Bunker. Weather Bunker.com. Land of the banned as Nea has declared it. Proud member of it. Nice people at www..com . Yeah, yeah, I know that's against the rules as well, to post a competing website. Oh well, just broke the rules. Sorry. I hope this post stays up long enough for a few folks to read it, but most likely only the admins will see it, and it will be removed shortly. That's the way it works around here. now i was going to say something like that but you have summed it up COMPLETELY. i wish i could have been here when you joined, because evidently that was before all this AGW crap started piling into weather sites. I vow to never become a troll or one who argues about climate(AGW in particular) because this isnt Climate Underground. this is WEATHER underground. i will post weather, tropics to snowstorms to thunderstorms. because thats what i came here for. and alot of others who dont have an account, view this blog because they want weather information. i guess thats why an active hurricane season is the best time to stick around here, because Jeff is busy with the tropic blogs and no time for climate talk. Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

486. SPLbeater 6:44 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Now..im going to bed. goodnight all Benilde Thane Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

487. Seawall 6:47 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting SPLbeater: now i was going to say something like that but you have summed it up COMPLETELY. i wish i could have been here when you joined, because evidently that was before all this AGW crap started piling into weather sites. I vow to never become a troll or one who argues about climate(AGW in particular) because this isnt Climate Underground. this is WEATHER underground. i will post weather, tropics to snowstorms to thunderstorms. because thats what i came here for. and alot of others who dont have an account, view this blog because they want weather information. i guess thats why an active hurricane season is the best time to stick around here, because Jeff is busy with the tropic blogs and no time for climate talk. Thanks, SPL. I appreciate your posts and your weather knowledge. Keep up the good work! Member Since: September 8, 2001 Posts: 1 Comments: 401

488. Skyepony (Mod) 6:53 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
According to ADT Thane has been onshore for 6 1/2hrs now.. News clip of the landfall. Looks like a lot of people driving around. Impressive waves. Flooding a concern with heavy rains. Lotta fishing boats in the harbor. Member Since: August 10, 2005 Posts: 144 Comments: 29376

489. Skyepony (Mod) 7:00 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Webcam of Mt Arunachala in Thane. Lord Siva said: What cannot be acquired without great pains the true import of Vedanta (Self-Realization) can be attained by anyone who looks at (this hill). from where it is visible or even mentally thinks of it from afar - Arunachala Mahatmyam (Skanda Purana) Member Since: August 10, 2005 Posts: 144 Comments: 29376

490. Skyepony (Mod) 7:12 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
VT just reopened the last of the roads destroyed by Irene. Tunica County TN..whole hood has flooded a few times this year. People can't sell it, county isn't going to help them..encouraging residents to get FEMA to buy them out. Member Since: August 10, 2005 Posts: 144 Comments: 29376

491. yqt1001 7:37 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Benilde looks to be spinning up.... Doing a Kenneth move, using dry air in the core as an excuse to build an eyewall around. Member Since: November 19, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 1184

492. HadesGodWyvern 7:38 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Mauritius Meteorological Services Tropical Cyclone Advisory #9 FORTE TEMPETE TROPICALE BENILDE (04-20112012) 10:00 AM RET December 30 2011 =================================== At 6:00 AM UTC, Severe Tropical Storm Benilde (984 hPa) located at 13.2S 79.7E has 10 minute sustained winds of 55 knots with gusts of 75 knots. The cyclone is reported as moving west at 13 knots. Dvorak Intensity: T4.0/4.0/D1.0/6 HRS Storm Force Winds ================= 35 NM from the center Gale Force Winds ================== 50 NM from the center extending up to 60 NM in the southern semi-circle Near Gale Force Winds ===================== 70 NM from the center extending up to 130 NM in the southern semi-circle Forecast and Intensity ===================== 12 HRS: 14.0S 78.0E - 60 knots (Forte Tempête Tropicale) 24 HRS: 15.4S 76.9E - 65 knots (CYCLONE Tropical) 48 HRS: 17.9S 75.4E - 80 knots (CYCLONE Tropical) 72 HRS: 19.4S 74.4E - 80 knots (CYCLONE Tropical) Additional Information ======================= The system has been relocated more towards the north relative to 00:00 AM UTC point. It continues to intensify for the last 6 hours. Latest visible satellite imagery shows a ragged eye and convection wrapping 1 lap around the center. Most of available numerical weather prediction models forecast a westward then southwestward track under the combined effects of a forecast weakness in the low level subtropical high pressure (in relationship with a transiting polar trough), and the steering influence of a building ridge east of the system in the mid-levels. On this track, environmental conditions are favorable for a regular intensification. Low level inflows are good poleward and equatorward. Trough 48 hours, system will approach the axis of the upper level ridge near 17.0N and as a good upper level outflow channel is expected to build aloft poleward. So, maximum intensity should occur Sunday. Beyond 84 hours, system is expected to reach seas with marginal heat oceanic content south of 20.0N and begin to weaken. The next tropical cyclone advisory from Mauritius Meteorological Services on Tropical Cyclone Benilde will be issued at 12:30 PM UTC.. Member Since: May 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36691

493. yqt1001 7:49 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Benilde 6 hours ago: Benilde now: RI starting? Member Since: November 19, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 1184

495. HadesGodWyvern 9:05 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
Fiji Meteorological Services Tropical Disturbance Summary TROPICAL DEPRESSION 02F 18:00 PM FST December 30 2011 =================================== At 6:00 AM UTC, Tropical Depression 02F (1002 hPa) located at 20.0S 160.0W is reported as slow moving. Position poor based on multispectral infrared. Sea surface temperature is around 28C. Organization has not improved significantly and convection remains persistent in the past 24 hours. Cyclonic circulation is from surface to 700 HPA. The system lies under and upper diffluent region and highly sheared environment. Global models have picked up the system and are slowly moving it southeastward with little intensification. The potential for this tropical depression to form into a tropical cyclone within the next 24-48 hours remains LOW. Member Since: May 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36691

496. HadesGodWyvern 9:19 AM GMT on December 30, 2011
ndia Meteorological Department Tropical Cyclone Advisory #35 DEEP DEPRESSION, FORMER THANE (BOB05-2011) 11:30 AM IST December 30 2011 =================================== SUBJECT: Severe Cyclonic Storm 'THANE' Weakened Rapidly Into A Deep Depression At 6:00 AM UTC, The severe cyclonic storm over north Tamil Nadu near Cuddalore moved further westward and weakened rapidly into a deep depression. Deep Depression, Former Thane lays centered near 11.8N 79.0E, about 100 Km west of Cuddalore. The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further. Forecast and Intensity ===================== 6 HRS: 11.8N 78.3E - 25 knots (Depression) 12 HRS: 11.8N 77.6E - Low Pressure Area Member Since: May 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36691

497. PensacolaDoug 12:06 PM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting SPLbeater: Does anybody here play chess? i know this is completely random, but was wonderin if im the only one here.. I play. Member Since: July 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 4828

498. SPLbeater 12:32 PM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting PensacolaDoug: I play. nice Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

499. AtHomeInTX 12:45 PM GMT on December 30, 2011
Good chilly morning everyone. 37F is chilly for here especially being socked in with fog. The very cold stuff that had been talked about doesn't look to be coming. That's ok with me. = ) More dense fog this morning, partly sunny afternoon Updated: Dec 30, 2011 6:23 AM CST Forecast Discussion A dense fog advisory is up for all of SE Texas until 9AM this morning. We'll have dense fog with visibilities of less than a quarter of a mile for much of the are so please allow extra time to get to your destinations and have extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. The fog should evaporate by mid to late morning making way for partly cloudy skies with highs near 72 this afternoon. For tomorrow, lows near 50 and a high of 72 with a slight 20% chance of rain late with the passage of a front. Cold temperatures for the first few days of 2012, with lows in the 30's and highs into the 50's. Tuesday morning we are expecting a forecast low of 31, with maybe some upper 20's for the lakes. Member Since: August 24, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 3890

500. PensacolaDoug 12:53 PM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting SPLbeater: nice I'm not real strong but I'm not bad either. Member Since: July 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 4828

501. SPLbeater 12:59 PM GMT on December 30, 2011
Quoting PensacolaDoug: I'm not real strong but I'm not bad either. i have been teaching my grandmother, for the last 6 months or maybe 9 lol. she hasnt beat me yet, but she aint bad...i guess from her and other family members' view im good, but im no super expert who is invincible lol. it would make me very so happy to see my grandmother beat me cuz that would tell me she need no more training. Member Since: August 4, 2011 Posts: 43 Comments: 3955

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