Tornadoes, violent thunderstorms rip the U.S.; Richard dies in the Gulf of Mexico
Tornadoes, violent thunderstorms, and torrential rains are sweeping through the nation's midsection today, thanks to an explosively deepening low pressure system over Minnesota. The spectacular storm is expected to bottom out at a central pressure of 960 mb later today, the type of central pressure one commonly encounters in Category 2 hurricanes. A powerful cold front trails southwards from the storm, and this cold front has spawned an impressive squall line studded with violent thunderstorms. As many as eleven simultaneous tornado warnings have been issued late this morning for these thunderstorms, from southern Michigan to northern Mississippi. So far, the tornadoes have been embedded within the squall line, and these type of tornadoes are typically weaker EF-0 to EF-1 twisters. However, as the day progresses and the sun's heating adds energy to the atmosphere, strong EF-2 or EF-3 tornadoes are likely, if discrete supercell thunderstorms separate from the squall line and begin to evolve. So far, six reports of tornadoes touching down have been received, but only minor damage has been reported. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has placed much of southern Michigan, eastern Indiana, and western Ohio in their "High Risk" area for severe weather. "High Risk" days occur less than five times per year, on average, and are unusual in the fall. Fall storms this intense only occur perhaps once every 5 - 10 years. You can follow today's severe weather outbreak using our Severe Weather Page and Tornado page.
Figure 1. This morning's severe weather outlook from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center puts most of Indiana and Western Ohio into their highest category for severe weather.
Richard dies
Tropical Depression Richard emerged into the Gulf of Mexico this morning after crossing the Yucatan Peninsula. However, passage over the Yucatan so weakened the storm that it has officially been declared dead by NHC. There was too much dry air and wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico to allow Richard to regenerate. Richard hit central Belize Sunday night as a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds. The storm is being blamed for $18 million in damage, but no deaths were reported. Belize lost about 1/3 of its orange crop to Richard's high winds. Electrical power is still out to 30% of the country, but is expected to be fully restored by tonight.
Figure 2. Visible MODIS satellite image of Hurricane Richard taken at 4:35pm EDT 10/25/10 by NASA's Aqua satellite. At the time, Richard was a tropical depression with 35 mph winds. Image credit: NASA.
Invest 90L
A low pressure system (Invest 90L) in the middle Atlantic Ocean has developed a broad circulation, with a band of heavy thunderstorms in an arc to the north and east of the storm. This hybrid subtropical system is under a moderate 10 - 20 knots of wind shear. Water temperatures are marginal for development, just 26.5 - 27°C (26.5°C is usually the limiting SST that a tropical storm can develop at.) NHC is giving 90L a 30% of developing into a subtropical depression or storm by Thursday.
Next update
I'll have an update on Wednesday morning. I'm at the National Hurricane Center in Miami this week, as part of their visiting scientist program, and will be shadowing NHC forecasters on the evening shift Tuesday - Friday to learn more about their operations. I'll probably talk tomorrow about the severe weather outbreak, but later this week I'll talk about what a shift at the Hurricane Center is like. I also have meetings planned with scientists at NOAA's Hurricane Research Division later this week, and plan to write about some of the research missions performed during this year's hurricane season.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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Could central and E VA be under a tornado watch tomorrow.
Power is out at CVG Cincinnati airport.
LOL.
That may result in a sleep that goes on for all eternity, for me.
Not ready for that, just yet!
Enjoy it. You Northerners are a Hardy People.
Uh Oh!!!
No one was hurt and classes continued.
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/south_central/radio-tower-falls-on-elementary-school
I agree, but with high upper level winds and dry air in the mid-levels if Richard try to redevelop his thunderstorms, well, he will have a hard time trying to do so.
probably, the storm isnt forcasted to get any weaker
Nice!
Down here, we get hurricanes, and mosquitos that abduct small children. ;)
Well, I am at 11n 61w, so most of the serious weather passes north of us.
But we do get Mosquitos the size of helicopters here too!
In the meantime, an area of convection approaching 60w that was threatening to come over us, is being blown away east by a blocking jetstream.
See the "Central Atlantic Rainbow Infrared Loop".
Richmond never really sees any tornadoes, because the mountains to our west protect us, and if we do, they need the NWS to survey it, and 8 times out of 10, its straight line winds. We had a micro burst move just south of me in late July, caused very local wind damage within a mile radius, and I was in that, but luckily my house was spared, lost some trees though. That was the storm that spawned a tornado in your area. Not to mention there was a possible tornado in west end Richmond at that time. What really upset me was the NWS didn't come out to my neighborhood to survey, I had to determine on my own, and it took weeks for me to find out.
Gives a good view, of the size of that system....
http://kdal610.com/ news/ articles/ 2010/ oct/ 26/ storm-leaves-duluth-record-low-pressure/
That image reminds me of Floodman....
Tight! LOL
Thanks for the warning.
I ignored it.
Got what I deserved.
LOL, it wasnt that bad, actually.
Very tight.
As in Vortexes, of course.
That's vortices. Big LOL
Good to know you are keeping aware of the situation.
Trust that everyone is doing likewise.
ooops!
clearly!
Stay safe, hydrus. I need you around to insult me at least once a week.
What is Bulk Richardson. I noticed that my area in VA is hilighted but I'm not sure what that is.
Statement as of 2:46 PM EDT on October 26, 2010
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
northern Muskingum County in east central Ohio...
northwestern Guernsey County in east central Ohio...
Coshocton County in east central Ohio...
southwestern Tuscarawas County in east central Ohio...
* until 330 PM EDT
* at 243 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 13 miles
southwest of Cooperdale... moving east at 50 mph.
* Other locations in the warning include but are not limited to
Cooperdale... Adamsville... Conesville...
Ferncliff... Coshocton... Otsego...
Boden... West Lafayette... Plainfield...
Bakersville... Kimbolton... Newcomerstown...
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
Heavy rainfall may obscure this tornado. Take cover now! If you wait
to see or hear it coming... it may be too late to get to a safe place.
Please report severe weather to the National Weather Service by
calling toll free. 1-877-633-6772. When you can do so safely.
The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement. Get under a
workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture. If no basement is
available... seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an
interior hallway or room such as a closet. Use blankets or pillows to
cover your body and always stay away from windows.
Please report severe weather to the National Weather Service by
calling toll free. 1-877-633-6772. When you can do so safely.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT Tuesday evening
for western Maryland and east central Ohio and western Pennsylvania
and northern West Virginia.
Most unstable CAPE/CIN and effective bulk shear.
Do actual humans feel any effect of a pressure drop this fast?
Viewing: 101 - 151
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