Tornado - Tornadic Circulation
| We're sitting watching TV as reports of tornados and "tornadic circulation" are all around us. A few minutes ago one was reported a mile away -- touching down right where I work. I can't connect to the website there. It could be the T1 line is down or other damage.
The house where we live doesn't have a basement, so we're in an interior hallway. The TV is showing eight "rotations" all around us.
I remember in 1974 when Louisville (and other areas) were hit hard by tornados. This is so different. We didn't have the warning systems, the sirens, the "super doppler radar." I know this is better, but it has kept everyone on a high stressful sense of alert for well over an hour.
At least the baby doesn't have a clue right now. She is listening to mom reading "Going to the Dentist."
Updates:
4:36 Now I'm watching lightning outside the window and on the TV a "wall cloud" is on the "tower cam". It's about two miles from the house and heading our way.
4:41 They're calling the storm heading toward us a "super cell." Thunder is louder. The baby isn't upset by the loud sounds since we're all awake. Just the other night we had out first talk about thunder and lightning -- "flashes and boomers." She understands that a big boom will soon follow a big flash.
4:45 The sirens had stopped for a few minutes, but now they're back. The TV is showing the wall cloud above our head: "Anywhere in this cloud a tornado could form."
4:50 On the TV: "A funnel cloud is reported (a mile and a half west of here)". "We are seeing a hook echo right there."
5:08 It's quiet again. The hard rain and hail has stopped. I can hear thunder a few miles away. The TV is spending time with "trained weather spotters" who are reporting hail, funnel clouds, heavy rain, and lightning in various rural areas all around us. I've been reading a few other sites while I sit here. This is a one from a midwestern storm chaser.
5:28 Now they're reporting a funnel cloud touching down a few miles south. The clock is showing we lost power (for just a few minutes) an hour and 50 minutes ago. I can see why the TV weathermen keep repeating "don't let down your guard." It's so calm here.
6:03 I took a quick drive to work. Our building is ok, but the web server and voice mail servers had not reset. (I'll figure out why Tuesday.) I reset everything. There were plenty of limbs on the road and a couple of downed trees. There was a building that had the roof ripped off and dropped on a house next door to it. The building was unoccupied. No one was hurt in the house.
6:59 Now they're showing video of a town 38 miles Northwest of us. Extensive damage to homes and at least one death. They believe it was a F2 or F3 tornado. It's been quiet for awhile, but I can hear some thunder in the distance now.
