I'm just not believing the destruction in Moore. They all agree it's worse than May 3rd as far as square miles of damage. All the cable news channels are just running our coverage. Entire neighborhoods are just gone. Two schools were leveled. Jim Gardner, who has seen a lot, says he's never seen such destruction. It's hard not to cry looking at this.

MSNBC has their weather guy on and he just said Oklahoma City has the best weather media in the United States. Absolutely. Let's hope it saved many, many lives. I'm still just stunned looking at this.

I know it's Mike Morgan, but, he said "This is the most destructive tornado in the history of the WORLD. I can say that with complete confidence." That went live on CNN and MSNBC.

I know it's Mike Morgan, but, he said "This is the most destructive tornado in the history of the WORLD. I can say that with complete confidence." That went live on CNN and MSNBC.

What? Are you serious? BTW this should probably go in the media thread.

What? Are you serious? BTW this should probably go in the media thread.
Absolutely. He said it exactly as I wrote it. You're right, it should be in the media thread. Does it matter now though? I'm just shell shocked at the destruction.

Lance West is crying on Channel 4 at what he's seeing. It's truly unbelievable.

I'll add this and then take it to the media thread. But this shows the scope of this storm that I have no words for.
Meteorologist: ?Worst Tornado Damage In The History Of The World? « CBS Houston (http://houston.cbslocal.com/2013/05/20/meteorologist-worst-tornado-damage-in-the-history-of-the-world/)

For those wondering, I am still updating the chat with information on the on going storms as best I can. Venture appears to have lost power or some variation. I believe he was in Norman - so I think it is okay to assume he is safe.

I know it's Mike Morgan, but, he said "This is the most destructive tornado in the history of the WORLD. I can say that with complete confidence." That went live on CNN and MSNBC.

Yeah - he said it, then repeated it, all while wearing his trademark ugly storm tie. He may be correct, but it's that type of statement that drives me crazy about some of our weather guys.

I live at 4th and Bryant (3 blocks north on Bryant). My wife is safe in downtown OKC and I bailed out of the house and went back to work in Norman. Waiting to find out about the neighborhood.

I stopped at the 7-11 on 4th St. in Moore before I went to the Warren Theater to see Star Trek. I checked my texts right when the movie ended and heard really bad weather was coming. I ran out of the theater and broke every motor vehicle law there is to get home before the hail. As you can see now, the 7-11 and the whole intersection is gone and the theater was damaged. I snapped this photo before I went inside at 11am.

Map (http://bit.ly/17VHsGD)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_5728.jpg

I guess this is the last photo of it before it was hit. They're now using it for triage for the wounded.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_5742.jpg

7-11 on the bottom. Looking NE. It looks like a man and a woman with a baby died inside.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_5743.jpg

Wow, glad you're ok Will. 3 People died at that 7-11.

There is a Tornado Destruction pix, help, etc thread - http://www.okctalk.com/current-events-open-topic/33985-tornado-destruction-thread-may-20-2013-a.html

Anyone know if there is any kind of relief going out to the responders? I know when they do long-term search and rescue, or wildfire fighters, people will sometimes donate food, water, etc. to that effort. I would be happy to make sandwiches or buy bottled water for them.

One of my co-workers apparently lost her home today. I will likely focus any donation efforts to the victims on helping her out.

Anyone know if there is any kind of relief going out to the responders? I know when they do long-term search and rescue, or wildfire fighters, people will sometimes donate food, water, etc. to that effort. I would be happy to make sandwiches or buy bottled water for them.

One of my co-workers apparently lost her home today. I will likely focus any donation efforts to the victims on helping her out.

Maybe someone could make a post or a sticky of anywhere{churches,etc}that are accepting donations to help out victims/responders?

Maybe someone could make a post or a sticky of anywhere{churches,etc}that are accepting donations to help out victims/responders?

That's one of the purposes of the Tornado Destruction thread at http://www.okctalk.com/current-events-open-topic/33985-tornado-destruction-thread-may-20-2013-a.html

Chat appears to be down.

New storm developing right over N OKC. ~6:45pm

Will monitor for severity.

Storm is now severe.

Is it tornadic or not

Not tornado producing.

There is a triple point axis sitting directly SW of OKC. The front is not really moving right now. So this will be a point of additional convection if it does form. So Just be aware as these could pop up quickly.


The storm that just came up is now dissipating over NE OKC into far E sides of Edmond.

I was chasing the cell that hit Moore.

This was the tornado from approx 1.5 miles to my NW. tornado was approximately at SW149th and Western. I was a mile and a half to the SE running parallel.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/975591_545382725507764_1977496815_n.jpg?oh=411485c 601a878fa819b5481ba154832&oe=519D0ACC&__gda__=1369324192_4f95790a593b70621c61786f814372a c

By the time it got to Telephone Road is was huge...way larger than it was just several minutes earlier at Western.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_5745.jpg

That's one of the purposes of the Tornado Destruction thread at http://www.okctalk.com/current-events-open-topic/33985-tornado-destruction-thread-may-20-2013-a.html
Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't notice that thread until I had already hit the post button.

Changing gears, anyone know what's going on down in Marietta? My mom lives down there.

Any word on tomorrow's weather yet? Thought I heard Michael Armstrong say it could be the same a little South of OKC.

I know it's prolly not hard to find but I am losing my mind. I have a Grandson in moore and his neighborhood was wiped out. Is there a website that you can check on names?

I know it's prolly not hard to find but I am losing my mind. I have a Grandson in moore and his neighborhood was wiped out. Is there a website that you can check on names?

You can try http://www.safeandwell.org/

Thank you.

No luck. It's probably too soon.

Chat appears to be down.

New storm developing right over N OKC. ~6:45pm

Will monitor for severity.

My apologies for that. Horrible time to happen. We were taking power grid hits as the tornado was up in Moore and then Cox internet just died. :-(

So with me dead in the water here...decided to come out of "retirement" for an evening. Unfortunately this wasn't in an open field where it can be enjoyed. My thoughts are with everyone impacted. Going through parts of Moore just broke my heart. However, I did get a couple of the beast...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/may20th/may20-1.jpg

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/may20th/may20-2.jpg

http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-130520-tornadoes-plains/ss-130520-mooretornado-kc-06.ss_full.jpg


Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in Oklahoma City, Okla., May 20, near SW 149th and Hudson.

Look at the teachers' faces.

I think all news station will be in wall to wall coverage tomorrow

New severe thunderstorm for Comanche and Cotton County. This storm is moving NE with some 1-2" hail.

Nice shots venture, very dramatic.


I too vanished from chat at the same time. Corporate forced us to take shelter and I had no internet access due to being in the tunnels underground. They would not let me stay at my desk, and said I was the only one who wanted to...


Anyways it looks like right now there is a boundary draped across south OK that is firing off the newly developing storms and moving them ENE.

The cold front boundary is now moving across the state and is firing a linear feature of storms from the NE, backbuilding to the SW.



There is so many odd boundaries setup right now with all of the random outflows and the triple point still hovering around OKC and south that it is hard to say if more development will take place here in C OK or not.

CLEANSKULL: Have you had any luck contacting your family? If not, please try calling (405) 307-1366.

I mentioned this in chat, but will also here. A lot of attention is given to May 3rd, but many forget that is not the last significant tornado in Moore and SW OKC and nor was it the last to take a similar path.

May 8th 2003 - F4 tornado with an F0 satellite

3905/08/20031604-16082.3100F000ClevelandOKC [NW of SW 149th and Penn - just SE of SW 134th and Western]4005/08/20031610-163817700F4045Cleveland/ OklahomaMoore - OKC (SE) - Midwest City (SE) - Choctaw [~1/2 mile N of SW 134th and Santa Fe to 1/2 mile E of Reno and Henney]
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/oun/wxevents/20030508/maps/may3-may8.jpg

May 10th, 2010 Outbreak
1905/10/20101620-1651242000EF4249Cleveland/ Oklahomafar north Norman (near Santa Fe/Indian Hill Road) - south Moore - Lake Draper - I-40/Choctaw - 1.5 SSE Harrah2005/10/20101622-16274250EF100Clevelandsouth and east Moore (near Broadway/Eastern - NE of SE 119/Sunnylane_2105/10/201016270.550EF100Clevelandfar southeast Moore
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/oun/wxevents/20100510/maps/Central.png


May 24th, 2011 Outbreak
8105/24/20111706-180133880EF4148Grady/ McClain/ Cleveland2 S Chickasha - SW Oklahoma City (near SW 149th and Portland)
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/oun/wxevents/20110524/maps/tornado-c1-c2-640.jpg

http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-130520-tornadoes-plains/ss-130520-mooretornado-kc-06.ss_full.jpg



Look at the teachers' faces.

I saw a small rendering of that photo, online, at work today.
Some people think of teachers as surrogate parents at a day care center.
Having been a teacher in the past and thinking a lot about my role dealing with other peoples' children it occurred to me (back when I was directly involved in the profession) that to chose to teach is to chose to touch, forever.
God Bless Them All.
For courage in the face of random unfairness.

btw: my own (grown) daughter and her husband live in Moore and I haven't heard a word yet.
they don't have a landline and i heard that cellphone traffic wasn't working down there.
i'm still hoping for the best.

I saw a small rendering of that photo, online, at work today.
Some people think of teachers as surrogate parents at a day care center.
Having been a teacher in the past and thinking a lot about my role dealing with other peoples' children it occurred to me that to chose to teach is to chose to touch, forever.
God Bless them all.

btw: my own (grown) daughter and her husband live in Moore and I haven't heard a word yet.
they don't have a landline and i heard that cellphone traffic wasn't working down there.
i'm still hoping for the best.

It breaks my heart to hear stuff like this. I can't imagine not being able to get ahold of my loved ones after a disaster like this. I hope they are ok.

My apologies for that. Horrible time to happen. We were taking power grid hits as the tornado was up in Moore and then Cox internet just died. :-(

So with me dead in the water here...decided to come out of "retirement" for an evening. Unfortunately this wasn't in an open field where it can be enjoyed. My thoughts are with everyone impacted. Going through parts of Moore just broke my heart. However, I did get a couple of the beast...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/may20th/may20-1.jpg

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/may20th/may20-2.jpg

Where were these taken at?

That top one looks like Penn and 134th?

There's a chat room?

Has their been an increase in the number of F4/F5 tornadoes in the past several years?

Moore has been hit 3 times since 1999, and had two other close calls in 2010 and 2011, all with F4/F5 storms. Why has historically the south metro area been the bullseye for these tornadoes of biblical proportions?

Careful, climate change is an uncomfortable topic 'round these parts...

Careful, climate change is an uncomfortable topic 'round these parts...

To [Oscar Wilde in a Barney Suit]: The correct epigram is "'round these here parts."
(geez. are you plagiarizing from the CBS site commentary? 'r whut?) . . .

sorry. that was very, very small of me to respond to such a vaguely "political" . . . nevermind.

"I would deal with you on your level . . .
But the descent would be too abrupt."
~Oscar Wilde

LOL, it's little to do with climate change. I remember very well a very severe tornado going through the same area about 50 years ago but there was very little for it to hit at the time. I took a movie of the damage but it's long gone.

Where were these taken at?

Sooner and 134th


There's a chat room?

This is the chat room you'll hear us talk about: Live Chat | Weather Spotlight (http://www.weatherspotlight.com/?page_id=40)


Has their been an increase in the number of F4/F5 tornadoes in the past several years?

Moore has been hit 3 times since 1999, and had two other close calls in 2010 and 2011, all with F4/F5 storms. Why has historically the south metro area been the bullseye for these tornadoes of biblical proportions?

I'm sure it would make an interesting study. I think it really comes down to just being at the end of the historically most active section of real estate in the original Tornado Alley. There area from there back through Grady/Caddo/Comanche counties is the most active tornado area in the US the last I looked.

Watch incoming.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/mcd0743.gif

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0743
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1136 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

AREAS AFFECTED...SRN AND E-CNTRL OK

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH LIKELY

VALID 210436Z - 210500Z

PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE...95 PERCENT

SUMMARY...SOME STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF A LARGE HAIL THREAT
TONIGHT. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL LIKELY BE PROPOSED
SHORTLY.

DISCUSSION...WDSS-II RADAR DATA SHOWS SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS OVER
S-CNTRL OK WITH ESTIMATED HAIL SIZE AOA 1 INCH. SURFACE ANALYSIS
PLACES A CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY ALONG THE RED RIVER VICINITY
AND THE STRONG WARM ADVECTION REGIME ONGOING OVER THE REGION WOULD
SEEMINGLY SUPPORT A FOCUSED AREA FOR STRONG-SEVERE STORMS CAPABLE OF
LARGE HAIL WITH THE MOST VIGOROUS UPDRAFTS.

..SMITH/CORFIDI.. 05/21/2013

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0199_radar.gif

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 199
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1200 AM CDT TUE MAY 21 2013

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN ARKANSAS
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

* EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY MORNING FROM MIDNIGHT UNTIL 700 AM CDT.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS LIKELY WITH A FEW VERY LARGE HAIL
EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE
SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 110
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MCALESTER OKLAHOMA TO 20 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF ARDMORE
OKLAHOMA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 193...WW 195...WW
196...WW 197...WW 198...

DISCUSSION...TSTMS EXPECTED TO PERSIST IN WAA ZONE ATOP COOL POOL
LEFT IN WAKE OF AR SQLN. 40-50 KT SWLY FLOW ATOP OUTFLOW DOME...AND
CONTINUING PRESENCE OF DEEP EML...SUGGEST A RISK FOR LARGE HAIL AND
POSSIBLY LOCALLY DMGG WIND.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 25025.

CLEANSKULL: Have you had any luck contacting your family? If not, please try calling (405) 307-1366.

No luck. I will try that number. all that chaos and no electricity is making for a very worried grandpa.

No family at that hospital. My Grandson's step-dad's name is Keith Chambers. If anybody here's anything at all plz post.

Uhhh..... Anybody notice this:

http://i.imgur.com/y31tC3Q.jpg (http://imgur.com/y31tC3Q)

Welp, guess it was just me.

Welp, guess it was just me.

It's why they have the watch out. Appears to be just some run of the mill severe storms and nothing high end.

Storm chances will stay pretty high over much of the state today through mid Afternoon - at least.

Loop (http://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/HRRR/jsloopLocalDiskDateDomain.cgi?dsKeys=hrrr_jet:&runTime=2013052109&plotName=cref_t5sfc&fcstInc=60&numFcsts=16&model=hrrr&ptitle=HRRR%20Model%20Fields%20-%20Experimental&maxFcstLen=15&fcstStrLen=-1&resizePlot=1&domain=t5)

Yup, decent to good chances of rain this afternoon over much of C OK. More great rain for the state. Southern parts of the state right now are approaching 3-4 inches of rain with these training thunderstorms.


Chances of some severe weather creep back in by Friday, looks right now to be W and SW OK.

I'd like to share this gif of the radar timelapse of yesterday's historic tornado.

http://i.minus.com/iluhrlDRbUSAQ.gif

This storm formed along with 2 other supercells just SW of OKC. This particular primary supercell was born on the triple-point axis which was located WSW of OKC proper. This cell was the dominant cell from the get-go as it was on the "clean" southern edge of the trio of cells. It absorbed both northern supercells and destroyed their inflow. The clear area to the south allowed for fresh inflow of 85F/75DP air to stream healthily into the storm. It was basically the perfect setup for this very complex setup over C OK.

I'd like to share this gif of the radar timelapse of yesterday's historic tornado.

http://i.minus.com/iluhrlDRbUSAQ.gif

This storm formed along with 2 other supercells just SW of OKC. This particular primary supercell was born on the triple-point axis which was located WSW of OKC proper. This cell was the dominant cell from the get-go as it was on the "clean" southern edge of the trio of cells. It absorbed both northern supercells and destroyed their inflow. The clear area to the south allowed for fresh inflow of 85F/75DP air to stream healthily into the storm. It was basically the perfect setup for this very complex setup over C OK.

Very interesting.... Thanks for sharing

I'd like to share this gif of the radar timelapse of yesterday's historic tornado.


This storm formed along with 2 other supercells just SW of OKC. This particular primary supercell was born on the triple-point axis which was located WSW of OKC proper. This cell was the dominant cell from the get-go as it was on the "clean" southern edge of the trio of cells. It absorbed both northern supercells and destroyed their inflow. The clear area to the south allowed for fresh inflow of 85F/75DP air to stream healthily into the storm. It was basically the perfect setup for this very complex setup over C OK.

The storm to the south that ulitmately caused this storm to weaken came 30mins too late. :(
I cant count the number of times that we have been lucky from storms cutting each other off over the years. Our luck ran out.

If you watch that image @ 2:30pm another supercell pops up roughly in the same exact spot, however - this one has its inflow cut off by a random garbage storm that pops up NW of Norman (in addition to the negative effects from the outflow put out by primary supercell).


If this event did not unfold through Moore, and the main supercell was one of the ones that popped up north of the Moore storm - then we would likely be talking about the same scenario taking place in an area further north with one of those cells. This is why forecasting stuff like this is impossible. The best we can do right now is forecast watches and warnings for general areas. It isn't until the action is happening in a second-by-second basis does it start to become exact locations - and by then it can actually be those valuable seconds for people to make life-changing decisions.

On to now, there are severe storms moving into SW OK right now from the TX panhandle. Ahead of the severe storms is garden-variety storms popping up. This will likely continue to increase and fill in as the afternoon approaches. It will be nice to get some solid rain amounts out of these storms. Hopefully Moore can be spared from the heaviest rains.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/mcd0748.gif

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0748
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0946 AM CDT TUE MAY 21 2013

AREAS AFFECTED...MUCH OF OK

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE

VALID 211446Z - 211715Z

PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE...40 PERCENT

SUMMARY...SCATTERED STORMS WILL PERSIST ACROSS MUCH OF OK. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS WILL BE POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER...COVERAGE OF HAIL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR A WATCH.

DISCUSSION...A STRONG SHORTWAVE TROUGH CONTINUES TO EJECT EWD ACROSS
THE TX PANHANDLE AND INTO WRN OK THIS MORNING WITH SCATTERED STRONG
TO SEVERE HAIL STORMS BEGINNING TO FORM NEAR CHILDRESS TX. THESE
STORMS ARE LIKELY ROOTED NEAR 700 MB...WELL ELEVATED ATOP THE
DEEPENING SURFACE COOL LAYER. FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING AND WARM
ADVECTION AT 700 ARE CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER THE TX/OK BORDER AND
WILL SPREAD EWD ACROSS THE BODY OF OK.

THE 12Z AMA AND OUN SOUNDINGS BOTH SHOW INSTABILITY ROOTED AT 700
MB...AND COOLING ALOFT FROM THE W WILL OVERSPREAD OK. FORECAST
SOUNDINGS FROM MULTIPLE MODELS INDICATE THAT DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN THE
CLOUD LAYER WILL AT LEAST BE MARGINALLY FAVORABLE FOR A FEW LONGER
LIVED CELLS CAPABLE OF HAIL...POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE OKC METRO AREA
LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON.

..JEWELL/KERR.. 05/21/2013

One storm right now is of concern as it pertains to search and recovery efforts in Moore. The storm is just west of Hobart and is moving East at about 40 MPH. This is the most severe storm in the state. Other popup showers and storms are also around hampering efforts as well, but this one has large hail with it as well. At the current speed it is 2 hours away from Moore if it maintains itself.

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/may13/21-1.png

I'd like to share this gif of the radar timelapse of yesterday's historic tornado.

http://i.minus.com/iluhrlDRbUSAQ.gif

This storm formed along with 2 other supercells just SW of OKC. This particular primary supercell was born on the triple-point axis which was located WSW of OKC proper. This cell was the dominant cell from the get-go as it was on the "clean" southern edge of the trio of cells. It absorbed both northern supercells and destroyed their inflow. The clear area to the south allowed for fresh inflow of 85F/75DP air to stream healthily into the storm. It was basically the perfect setup for this very complex setup over C OK.

I see rotation in the top storm near Mustang, is that correct? It looks like the top rotation almost "merged" with the bottom one.