Severe Weather Liveblog is a collective effort to keep Kossacks safe when a large severe weather outbreak takes place. These blogs will be posted as needed, based on user-interaction (comments) and evolution of the severe weather event.
These diaries will be posted when one or more of the following criteria are met:
- A moderate risk for severe weather, as denoted by the SPC.
- A major tornado outbreak anywhere in the United States (or Canada...but those are harder for the public to track and detect due to Canada's radar system and the way Environment Canada works its warnings)
- A derecho event, which can cause extreme damage over large areas.
- Landfalling hurricanes
- Severe weather events impacting a very densely populated metro area (Chicago, DC, NYC, Atlanta, etc.)
If you have emergency information that needs to be added to the diary (reports of tornadoes on the ground, emergency information telephone numbers, etc.), please indicate so in the subject line of the comment to lessen the delay in posting it to the diary.
Right now, aside from myself, the editors of Severe Weather Liveblog are not4morewars, boatsie and Predictor. If you'd like to help, drop me a message.
Please keep in mind that any Severe Weather Liveblogs posted are not places for tasteless cracks at other people's expense. Post cheap political/social shots towards those affected at your own risk.
Storms have quickly formed across the Ohio Valley this afternoon, prompting dozens of severe thunderstorm warnings, a few tornado warnings, and a massive tornado watch spanning 5 states and 254 counties. There have been 6 hail reports from these storms in the last few hours, and the intensity keeps growing.
The two most intense storms as of 208PM CDT were both located in Ohio. The most urgent one (they're all urgent, but this is the "worst") is a supercell thunderstorm with a hook on it, showing very strong rotation, indicating a potential tornado.
This storm is going through northern Ohio, with a warning out for Ashland, Knox and Richland Counties.
Here's the velocity image, showing the strong rotation in the storm.
Here's the other storm in southern Ohio, with a severe thunderstorm warning out for Fayette, Pickaway and Ross Counties. This storm is capable of producing hail up to the size of golfballs, and it probably already has very strong hail in it judging by the incredible reflectivity readings from the storm. (The deep whites/purples in the middle of the storm is probably from the radar beam reflecting off the hail instead of raindrops).
Aside from these storms, there are 16 other severe thunderstorm warnings in effect, covering almost 40 counties from Tennessee to northern Ohio. This will be a long, long afternoon for the 7 million folks living in this area. Stay tuned to weather sources for emergency info.
Watches
Red = Tornado Watch ... Blue = Severe T'storm Watch ... Click image to go to SPC watch page.
Tornado Watch -- #55 -- 900PM EDT -- KY, IN, OH, WV, PA
Links
Click HERE to read my rant about why you need a weather radio.
National Weather Service
Storm Prediction Center
Wunderground
FEMA
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
Previous Liveblogs:
(2-24-2011) Liveblog 1 -- Tornado outbreak in mid-south
(2-24-2011) Liveblog 2 -- Tornado outbreak in mid-south
(2-25-2011) Summary of damages due to 2-24 tornado outbreak
(2-27-2011) Information on impending severe weather/tornado outbreak
(2-27-2011) Liveblog 3 -- Severe weather outbreak in mid-west & mid-south
(2-27-2011) Liveblog 4 -- Severe weather outbreak in mid-west & mid-south
(2-27-2011) Liveblog 5 -- Severe weather outbreak in mid-west & mid-south
(2-27-2011) Liveblog 6 -- Severe weather outbreak in mid-west & mid-south
(2-28-2011) Liveblog 7 -- Severe weather outbreak continues in southeast
(2-28-2011) Liveblog 8 -- Severe weather enters major SE cities
(2-28-2011) Liveblog 9 -- Severe storms advance deeper into SE
(3-4-2011) Liveblog 10 -- Bow echo brings severe weather to STL area
(3-5-2011) Liveblog 11 -- Tornado threat for N. Gulf Coast
(3-5-2011) Liveblog 12 -- Tornado threat moves towards Mobile, AL area
(3-9-2011) Tornadoes hit Mobile, AL area and cause major damage
(3-14-2011) Liveblog 13 -- Line of severe storms threatens MS and AL
(3-23-2011) Moderate risk for severe weather in Ohio Valley
(3-23-2011) Major storms breaking out across Ohio Valley
Updates
UPDATE 1 (222PM CDT)
That storm in northern Ohio keeps getting stronger, with a more defined hook echo. I'll bet money on this thing producing at least funnel clouds, if not a full blown tornado.
UPDATE 2 (3:18PM CDT)
Here is a current surface map with radar. Only see severe warnings and they are spread out all over. No tornado warnings currently. I will monitor and if I see something worth updating I will. -not4morewars-
UPDATE 3 (3:52PM CDT)
Tornado warning now
WWUS51 KPBZ 232047
SVSPBZ
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
447 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
PAC129-232100-
O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110323T2100Z
WESTMORELAND PA-
447 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR
WESTMORELAND COUNTY...
AT 441 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LINCOLN HEIGHTS...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
JEANNETTE... DELMONT... GREENSBURG...
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
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.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
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 WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
LAT...LON 4024 7972 4038 7968 4044 7966 4045 7952
4024 7944
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 281DEG 25KT 4029 7955
$$
UPDATE 4 (4:21PM CDT)
Warning update -not4morewars-
WFUS51 KCTP 232109
TORCTP
PAC021-111-232145-
O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0001.110323T2109Z-110323T2145Z
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
509 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN CAMBRIA COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
NORTHERN SOMERSET COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
* UNTIL 545 PM EDT
* AT 508 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
TORNADO. THE STORM CONTAINING THE TORNADO WAS NEAR LIGONIER...
MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BOSWELL AND WESTMONT AROUND 520 PM...
JEROME...ACOSTA AND DAVIDSVILLE AROUND 525 PM...
WINDBER...SCALP LEVEL AND GEISTOWN AROUND 530 PM...
CENTRAL CITY AND DUNLO AROUND 535 PM...
OGLETOWN AROUND 540 PM...
THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 100
AND 129.
THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...THE JOHNSTOWN
EXPRESSWAY...ROUTE 30...ROUTE 219.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER INSIDE NOW. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. MOVE
TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A STURDY BUILDING. PUT AS
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS YOU CAN. AVOID WINDOWS.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
&&
LAT...LON 4012 7921 4012 7919 4013 7917 4015 7917
4017 7915 4026 7909 4036 7900 4028 7865
4008 7873 4006 7876 3997 7877 4008 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 289DEG 43KT 4021 7920
$$
FORECASTER: EVANEGO