Tornadoes rip Midwest, killing 9; heavy snow hits Upper Midwest
Strong tornadoes plowed through the Midwest U.S. last night and this morning, killing at least nine people. Six people died in Harrisburg, Illinois when a tornado hit near 5:37 am CST this morning, damaging or destroying 200 buildings. Another person was killed in southwest Missouri near Buffalo when a possible tornado ripped through a mobile home park. Thirteen others were injured in the mobile home park. Two others died in the Cassville and Puxico areas. A tornado also moved through downtown Branson, Missouri early this morning, causing heavy damage to the city's famous theaters, and injuring at least twelve people. A tornado plowed through the small town of Harveyville, Kansas (population 275), twenty miles southwest of Topeka, at 9:03 pm last night. The tornado destroyed 40 - 60% of the structures and injured ten, one critically. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged fifteen preliminary tornado reports yesterday and today.
The same storm system also brought the heaviest snows of the winter to portions of the Upper Midwest, which has received scant snowfall this winter. Blizzard warnings are posted in South Dakota this morning, where snowfall amounts of 6 - 10 inches are common. According to NOAA's latest storm summary, five states have experienced snowfall amounts of ten inches or more--Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, and Nebraska. The highest snow amount as of 8 am CST was recorded at Tripoli, Wisconsin, where fourteen inches had fallen.
Figure 1. Radar image of the squall line that passed through Harrisburg, Illinois this morning, spawning a tornado that killed three people. The position of Harisburg is marked by a circle with a "+" symbol.
Figure 2. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged thirteen preliminary tornado reports yesterday.
More tornadoes likely today
The powerful late-winter storm system that spawned the deadly tornadoes will move eastwards, bringing snows of 5 - 10 inches to northern Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and northern New England. The storm's cold front is triggering severe thunderstorms over much of Kentucky this morning, and these thunderstorms are expected to grow in severity and spawn more tornadoes this afternoon, once the heat of the day destabilizes the atmosphere. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has posted tornado watches for portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio this morning, and has placed much of Tennessee and portions of surrounding states in their "Moderate Risk" area for severe weather today. Consult our Severe Weather Page and Interactive Tornado Page to follow today's severe weather.
Figure 3. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Tennessee and portions of surrounding states in their "Moderate Risk" area for severe weather, one level below the highest level of alert, "High Risk."
Jeff Masters
Winter in Northern Minnesota
Reader Comments
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it may very well be meaningless but to see you get your panties in a wad is humorous. I was simply suggesting the difference between common and proper nouns, not trying to change your way of rational. Try not to get so emotional over something so, as you say, meaningless.
I agree. A expansion of the moderate risk area and stronger wording seem likely. They will also probably shift the slight risk east on the day 3 outlook to include the Virginias and Carolinas, and Maryland.
High Risk would come tonight if guidance continues to show what it is showing right now or any worse.
I think that a high risk scenario isnt out of the question. The setup is a nasty one for sure
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1009 AM CST THU MAR 1 2012
ALC035-053-011645-
/O.CON.KMOB.SV.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120301T1645Z/
CONECUH AL-ESCAMBIA AL-
1009 AM CST THU MAR 1 2012
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM CST
FOR NORTHEASTERN ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHERN CONECUH COUNTIES...
AT 1005 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR BARNETT CROSSROADS...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF FLOMATON...
MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
RANGE...WALLACE...I65 AND AL 41...LENOX...I65 AND CR
6...APPLETON...PEA RIDGE...BREWTON...LONDON...EAST
BREWTON...CASTLEBERRY...SPRING HILL...KIRKLAND...ROCK
HILL...BOYKIN...MARIETTA...DAMASCUS...MELROSE...G EORGIAVILLE.
..JOHNSONVILLE...US 29 AND CR 43...ROBERTS...DIXIE AND BROOKLYN.
LAT...LON 3108 8671 3107 8694 3113 8728 3122 8736
3134 8727 3138 8668 3136 8668 3135 8669
3134 8670
TIME...MOT...LOC 1608Z 269DEG 24KT 3124 8725
$$
Posted by: JeffMasters, 9:14 AM CST on March 02, 2012
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