Updated with some numbers and storm surveys

[Mill]

The weaker of two tornados that hit Carbon Hill has been rated a F3. It had a damage track that was 50-60 miles long. Twelve people have died in Alabama and over 60 injuried. Alexis in Cherokee county also had a fatality and I would expect the damage there to be F2 at least. Brian Peters from the Birmingham NWS will spend the next few days confirming touchdowns(maybe he can find some witnesses to confirm the tornado lifting back up that my neighbor and I saw) and doing storm surveys. The fact that these tornados were only strong F2-F3 is simply amazing. The radar returns made everyone quite scared around here. I watched as several meterologist were saying this was going to be a F4/F5. The only thing that prevented these storms from having that ratings was that they did not touch down when at that strength or they hit such rural areas it was impossible to get an accurate damage survey.

Even though twelves lives were lost, it makes me happy that those were the only ones. With the numerous tornados that touched down(not sure of numbers yet 10-20 at least) it could have been much worse. In 1998 when the tornado touched down 1/2 mile from my house and church it killed over 40 people and injuried hundreds. Had it not hit mainly rural areas such as Oak Grove, Concord, Rock Creek, Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, etc then the death toll would have been staggering. The storm in 1998 stopped one mile from Downtown Birmingham and one mile from the Birmingham Intl Airport.

I will post more at time allows. Interesting to note that the house one of my cousins just moved out of was on a street in Jefferson County that had heavy damage due to the tornado that me, the Skoorbs, and Ohtwell weathered.

Evan

 

[BD231]

And I though it was bad in Cali right now :Q. Hope everyone is ok.

 

[Hanpan]

Perhaps it is a good idea as we sit down to dinner (or any other family moment), that we count ourselves amongst the blessed, and remeber those affected by what can truley be described as an act of God. (the preceding is a manner of speach and does not intend any theological consequences. Please do not turn this into a religous flame thread.)

 

[Mill]

Cullman County is evacuting their EMA facilities. Tornado is still on the ground and causing major damage and deaths.

 

[glen]

What state?

 

[Mill]

The first tornado is in TN. The other is in Alabama. 50 miles from me.

 

[shiner]

Tornadoes are suck! We deal with them every spring and fall here in Oklahoma. Hope the ones today weren't anything like this one

Storm of the Century
On May 3, 1999, the fastest wind speed ever recorded on the surface of the planet was clocked at 318 mph ? just inside the city limits of Oklahoma City, Okla. Equal in force to a shock-front nuclear explosion, this inconceivable blast of air was generated by an F-5 tornado that scoured a trough of destruction through the suburb of Moore before turning north to chew through the capital city's southwestern edge. In addition to being a rare F-5 of record-breaking wind speed on an improbable course through a major metropolitan area, this tornado was remarkable for how fast it wasn't. At 318 mph, it was at the top end of the wind-speed spread for an F-5. One mile an hour faster, and this would have been an F-6 tornado ? which, until recently, had been hailed as "inconceivable" by climatologists.

Starting in Chickasha, Okla., 45 miles southwest of the capital, use the map below to track the course of this monster storm.

Tornadoes of May 3, 1999 by the Numbers

66 tornadoes throughout Oklahoma
52 tornadoes in the Oklahoma City metro area
42 fatalities
675 injuries
20,000+ automobiles damaged, destroyed or "written off"
8,000+ buildings damaged or destroyed
7,000+ homes
260 business damaged or destroyed, including 53 stores at one Stroud, Okla., strip mall
5 churches
2 schools
11 public buildings
$1.2 billion estimated damage

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Tornadoes are suck! We deal with them every spring and fall here in Oklahoma. Hope the ones today weren't anything like this one

Storm of the Century
On May 3, 1999, the fastest wind speed ever recorded on the surface of the planet was clocked at 318 mph ? just inside the city limits of Oklahoma City, Okla. Equal in force to a shock-front nuclear explosion, this inconceivable blast of air was generated by an F-5 tornado that scoured a trough of destruction through the suburb of Moore before turning north to chew through the capital city's southwestern edge. In addition to being a rare F-5 of record-breaking wind speed on an improbable course through a major metropolitan area, this tornado was remarkable for how fast it wasn't. At 318 mph, it was at the top end of the wind-speed spread for an F-5. One mile an hour faster, and this would have been an F-6 tornado ? which, until recently, had been hailed as "inconceivable" by climatologists.

Starting in Chickasha, Okla., 45 miles southwest of the capital, use the map below to track the course of this monster storm.

By the Numbers

66 tornadoes throughout Oklahoma
52 tornadoes in the Oklahoma City metro area
42 fatalities
675 injuries
20,000+ automobiles damaged, destroyed or "written off"
8,000+ buildings damaged or destroyed
7,000+ homes
260 business damaged or destroyed, including 53 stores at one Stroud, Okla., strip mall
5 churches
2 schools
11 public buildings
$1.2 billion estimated damage

Exactly the type of storm I am talking about Shiner. The F5 in 98 did similar damage around here. This one looks to be even worse.

EMA director of Walker County just said Carbon Hill was heavily damaged and they cannot get in to assist anyone.

 

[Mill]

The path so far is 75 miles long. The word Catastrophic was just used to describe damages in most areas. The city of Carbon Hill is on fire.

 

[UNCjigga]

Damn, I'll be praying for the people in Bama and Tennessee. All this is heading to Charlotte

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Millennium
The path so far is 75 miles long. The word Catastrophic was just used to describe damages in most areas. The city of Carbon Hill is on fire.

That's hard core man....hope the loss of life isn't too great. That huge bastad that came through here in 99 was on the ground for more than 4 hours. Traveled all the way from the SW part of the state up through Tulsa in the NE part of the state.

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: Millennium
The path so far is 75 miles long. The word Catastrophic was just used to describe damages in most areas. The city of Carbon Hill is on fire.

:Q That is horrible :Q

 

[UNCjigga]

Why don't I seen anything in the major news networks? Not newsworthy enough?? :|

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Why don't I seen anything in the major news networks? Not newsworthy enough?? :|

I was thinking the same thing. If a politician farted it would be worldwide news, but tornados devastating part of the U.S. isn't worth a mention.

The weather channel is doing a bit on epilepsy right now. WTF?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Why don't I seen anything in the major news networks? Not newsworthy enough?? :|

It has been hitting rural to medium size cities. Unless several hundred people die who else out of alabama cares? I am be a little jaded but in 1998 the storm was hardly mentioned and it killed 40 people and stopped one mile from downtown Birmingham. None of the networks cares.

 

[Mill]

A spotter from the local news had reached Carbon hill. He says the damage is at least a F3. The rumor of fire is just two houses that are burning out of control because the roads are blocked and they can't get fire truck up there.

 

[AreaCode707]

Anyone here in the potential path or the aftermath of these?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Storm system is entering PA right now. There were a handful of deaths in Ohio too. This thing stretches almost forever.

ZV

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Why don't I seen anything in the major news networks? Not newsworthy enough?? :|

It has been hitting rural to medium size cities. Unless several hundred people die who else out of alabama cares? I am be a little jaded but in 1998 the storm was hardly mentioned and it killed 40 people and stopped one mile from downtown Birmingham. None of the networks cares.

I care and I'm sure many other ATers care. Keep safe.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Anyone here in the potential path or the aftermath of these?

It is 50 miles north of me. There are more to my south that could hit near me...

 

[Electrode]

As much of a cliche as it is, I must ask: pics? Some screen caps? Any local channels over there that have streams?

 

[Mill]

I wish I had some. It is nightime here and most of the areas are blocked off by damage. I am hearing some good reports that the path may be around 50 miles or less. All info I posted was intial reported info. Hopefully it won't be as bad as it seems. Still more storms to come though.

BTW, there have been deaths in OH and TN.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Tornadoes are suck! We deal with them every spring and fall here in Oklahoma. Hope the ones today weren't anything like this one

Storm of the Century
On May 3, 1999, the fastest wind speed ever recorded on the surface of the planet was clocked at 318 mph ? just inside the city limits of Oklahoma City, Okla. Equal in force to a shock-front nuclear explosion, this inconceivable blast of air was generated by an F-5 tornado that scoured a trough of destruction through the suburb of Moore before turning north to chew through the capital city's southwestern edge. In addition to being a rare F-5 of record-breaking wind speed on an improbable course through a major metropolitan area, this tornado was remarkable for how fast it wasn't. At 318 mph, it was at the top end of the wind-speed spread for an F-5. One mile an hour faster, and this would have been an F-6 tornado ? which, until recently, had been hailed as "inconceivable" by climatologists.

Starting in Chickasha, Okla., 45 miles southwest of the capital, use the map below to track the course of this monster storm.

Tornadoes of May 3, 1999 by the Numbers

66 tornadoes throughout Oklahoma
52 tornadoes in the Oklahoma City metro area
42 fatalities
675 injuries
20,000+ automobiles damaged, destroyed or "written off"
8,000+ buildings damaged or destroyed
7,000+ homes
260 business damaged or destroyed, including 53 stores at one Stroud, Okla., strip mall
5 churches
2 schools
11 public buildings
$1.2 billion estimated damage

I lived nere OKC when that happened. Very scary.

 

[Mill]

Tornado on ground in Fayette County.

Carbon Hill is getting rocked again. I mean the fvcking Squall line hasn't even moved through and we have a sh!tload of damage... Fvck.


Lots of warnings in TN.

 

[SyahM]

WOW .. that's terrible, I feel sorry for the victims and family and pray that they will be no casualties.
Millennium, I hope the tornado wont reach your place or you better find someplace safe .. err, did you wired your basement?