Severe weather now looking likely Friday afternoon through Friday night

[RocketDawg]

I saw one picture, I think from Mayfield, that had a picture in the background with the bark off the tree. That's EF-5 damage if I recall correctly.

Weather Channel guy this morning said the radar was the worst he'd seen, with a difference of 280 mph between inbound/outbound readings.

[Dawg_Lover]

Looks like one went through my hometown in W KY.

Was your hometown hit, and are your family and friends alright? Hopefully it was not Mayfield. The pictures of that area make me think of Joplin, MO, years ago.
God help all affected by the storms last night and those ongoing today.

[starkvegasdawg]

I saw one picture, I think from Mayfield, that had a picture in the background with the bark off the tree. That's EF-5 damage if I recall correctly.

Weather Channel guy this morning said the radar was the worst he'd seen, with a difference of 280 mph between inbound/outbound readings.

An EF-4 can strip bark from a tree but either way this was an exceptionally violent and long lived storm. I expect it to end up a 5 but that'll be up to the survey teams. It will probably get a prelim rating of a 3 with the caveat the surveys are still ongoing.

[99jc]

An EF-4 can strip bark from a tree but either way this was an exceptionally violent and long lived storm. I expect it to end up a 5 but that'll be up to the survey teams. It will probably get a prelim rating of a 3 with the caveat the surveys are still ongoing.

At 227 miles long it will be confirmed as the longest tracking on ground tornado in US history.

[starkvegasdawg]

At 227 miles long it will be confirmed as the longest tracking on ground tornado in US history.

They'll have to confirm it was on the ground that entire time. There's been a little discussion it may have actually been two tornadoes. The first one lifted and then the storm cycled and dropped another one very soon afterwards.

[OLJWales]

At 227 miles long it will be confirmed as the longest tracking on ground tornado in US history.

Sadly the death total is looking north of 100 lives. Don't know the record on that. I can't imagine survivors suffering family member losses. Unimaginable. God Help Them All.

[starkvegasdawg]

Sadly the death total is looking north of 100 lives. Don't know the record on that. I can't imagine survivors suffering family member losses. Unimaginable. God Help Them All.

Especially at this time of year.

[Bass Chaser]

Was your hometown hit, and are your family and friends alright? Hopefully it was not Mayfield. The pictures of that area make me think of Joplin, MO, years ago.
God help all affected by the storms last night and those ongoing today.

It is Mayfield. As far as I can learn family and friends are OK. I know of one guy in my high school graduating class that was killed. Thanks for asking.

[Dawg_Lover]

It is Mayfield. As far as I can learn family and friends are OK. I know of one guy in my high school graduating class that was killed. Thanks for asking.

So sorry for the devastation and loss, in your hometown of Mayfield, glad to hear your family and friends are okay.

[Bass Chaser]

So sorry for the devastation and loss, in your hometown of Mayfield, glad to hear your family and friends are okay.

Thank you!

[Commercecomet24]

It is Mayfield. As far as I can learn family and friends are OK. I know of one guy in my high school graduating class that was killed. Thanks for asking.

Praying for all those affected! Hoping your family and friends are ok!

[Dawg_Lover]

Memphis did have trees down on power lines & houses. Sadly, one lady was killed when a tree went down across her home.

[Bass Chaser]

Praying for all those affected! Hoping your family and friends are ok!

Thanks CC!

[Commercecomet24]

Thanks CC!

You're welcome! I remember all to well the Easter tornadoes 2020 here in Jones county that devastated the western part of the county. It's heartbreaking.

[Joebob]

One thing that's interesting to me is that the winds were blowing out of the southwest before the outbreak. Here in DFW that would mean dry air blowing in from the desert, which isn't conducive to forming tornadoes. Obviously though there was still plenty of moisture in place in that part of the country to allow a severe tornado outbreak.

Also, I read a story a little while ago from 2018 that said that a new tornado alley was forming in that exact part of the country, and the tornadoes were lasting longer and happening at night, which is exactly what happened last night. It said the center of this increasing tornadic activity was Memphis.

[Bass Chaser]

I continue to be interested in how much the Mississippi River affects these storms.

My hometown is not far from where the Ohio and Mississippi River connect. You also have the Tennessee River to the south.

[starkvegasdawg]

I continue to be interested in how much the Mississippi River affects these storms.

My hometown is not far from where the Ohio and Mississippi River connect. You also have the Tennessee River to the south.

Zero effect. The dynamics that create and feed these storms are on a much larger scale than what a river could ever manipulate.

[parabrave]

One thing that's interesting to me is that the winds were blowing out of the southwest before the outbreak. Here in DFW that would mean dry air blowing in from the desert, which isn't conducive to forming tornadoes. Obviously though there was still plenty of moisture in place in that part of the country to allow a severe tornado outbreak.

Also, I read a story a little while ago from 2018 that said that a new tornado alley was forming in that exact part of the country, and the tornadoes were lasting longer and happening at night, which is exactly what happened last night. It said the center of this increasing tornadic activity was Memphis.

Back in the 70's Ohio and KY were getting some of the worst outbreak in history.

[parabrave]

Zero effect. The dynamics that create and feed these storms are on a much larger scale than what a river could ever manipulate.

The main thing was the high and mid level winds that were causing the instability. Friday morning they were showing the winds at 150 and 200 FL over Arkansas. I can't remember what they were but the forecaster was saying that we would see some high EF Tornados. SVD and Scooba and the new guy can explain this factor better.

[starkvegasdawg]

To get tornadoes you have to have sufficient instability to produce the thunderstorms and sufficient persistent shear to produce sustained strong updrafts. Also need it in the correct ratios. Too much instability and not enough shear and you end up with a rainy mess. Too much shear and the storms just rip themselves apart. Also, typically need a low level jet coming in at the right angle to help produce the discrete supercells. Get too many storms in one area and they disrupt each other's inflow and outflow as well as compete for available instability and moisture. Instead of being discrete they end up forming a squall line.