Severe Weather Outbreak - 10 killed in Mississippi

[Pathfinder]

Severe Weather Outbreak Will Target Texas, Oklahoma

Apr 21, 2010; 2:25 AM ET

A significant severe weather outbreak will target the south-central U.S., including Texas and Oklahoma, Thursday into Friday, potentially ramping up a slow start to the 2010 severe weather season. Damaging hail and tornadoes will be the primary concerns.

Severe Weather Shaping Up

A storm system dropping heavy rain and snow across the West today will move across the Four Corners region Thursday and emerge in the Plains Friday, sparking damaging thunderstorms.


While thunderstorms will develop well ahead of this storm system over the next few days, it is the Thursday-to-Saturday time frame that has AccuWeather.com meteorologists most worried.

Severe storms are expected to develop from central Kansas to northwestern Texas on Thursday and push east into areas from eastern Kansas to northeastern Texas by Friday. The central and lower Mississippi Valley will be targeted Saturday and the Tennessee Valley Saturday night.

These storms will likely produce large and damaging hail, gusty winds and tornadoes. Flooding rain is possible across the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley on Saturday.

Expected Disruptions

Disruptions to travel are expected across the South over the next several days as the severe weather moves through.

Highway travel will be affected most as debris, downed trees and power lines could make driving a nightmare in some spots.

Interstate 40 from Oklahoma City to Nashville could be most affected over the next several days, while all other highways in the region could be prone to delays and detours.

Meanwhile, flights into and out of the region's airports will also face delays as this line of storms moves east.
...

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/new...ak_could_1.asp

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak Will Target Texas, Oklahoma

Tornadoes, Large Hail Ravaging Colorado, Kansas, Texas

Apr 22, 2010; 9:10 PM ET

The stage is set for a major outbreak of potentially life-threatening and destructive thunderstorms over Texas and the southern Plains through Friday.

This situation represents the greatest severe thunderstorm and tornado threat for 2010 thus far. Already, there have been over two dozen reports of tornadoes this afternoon and evening across eastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas and northwestern Texas.

As energy from a storm in the West rolls eastward and gathers moisture, powerful thunderstorms, capable of spawning tornadoes, will continue forming over the southern Plains, including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.

A significant number of the thunderstorms will bring enough heavy rain to blind motorists and cause flash flooding, winds strong enough to down trees and remove roofs and hail large enough to break windows and dent vehicles.


If this were any other year, we would most certainly have an event rivaling some of the most destructive outbreaks in past years. However, marginal humidity levels, which have been a problem so far this season, will continue to mediate the atmosphere.

That being said, humidity levels (dew points) are rising from south to north from Texas to southern Kansas enough to support a number of severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes.

Where this more humid air collides with dry air from the deserts is where the greatest risk of tornadoes exists through tonight, namely from the northern Texas Panhandle to western Kansas and eastern Colorado through tonight.

The high-risk area will shift farther east Friday, along and ahead of the push of dry air. By then, a zone of sufficiently high dew point air should lie from the upper Texas coast and much of Louisiana northward to eastern Kansas and much of Missouri.



This is a very dangerous <NOBR id=itxt_nobr_10_0 style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: darkgreen; FONT-FAMILY: inherit">weather</NOBR> situation and people from the southern Plains to the lower and middle Mississippi Valley are encouraged to treat the weather the next few days with great respect, despite a lack of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes so far this year.

Repeating showers and thunderstorms flooded portions of northern and central Kansas Thursday morning. These drenching storms were focusing on the Kansas City area and much of central Missouri this evening.

By Saturday the threat of violent thunderstorms and flash flooding will cross the Mississippi River threatening areas and weekend outdoor activities over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys to part of the Deep South.

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/new...rm-tornado.asp

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado Threat Continues Saturday over the lower Mississippi Valley

Tornado Threat Continues Saturday

Apr 23, 2010; 9:58 AM ET

The most extensive and dangerous outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes so far this season will continue through Saturday and will target populated areas over the lower Mississippi Valley.

There is an elevated risk of the type of thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes Saturday into Saturday evening.
Among the dangers is the risk of some of the tornadoes being hidden by heavy rainfall or under the shroud of darkness.


The greatest risk of violent thunderstorms, capable of producing tornadoes Saturday and Saturday night will stretch from the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coasts, northward to eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and much of Kentucky.

Major cities in this threat area include New Orleans, Jackson, Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis and Louisville.

Talladega Superspeedway is among the locations included in this severe thunderstorm and tornado risk area through Saturday evening.

While not all of the storms will produce tornadoes, many areas could be hit by damaging wind gusts, large hail, flash flooding and frequent lightning strikes.

Some areas may be hit by more than one severe thunderstorm over a several-hour period.

People are urged to stay on top of the weather situation this weekend, as conditions could become life-threatening in their area in a matter of minutes.

Keep checking in at AccuWeather.com for updates on the severe weather situation this weekend.

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/new...nues-satur.asp

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues Saturday over the lower Mississippi Valley

Particularly Dangerous Situation: Tornado Outbreak

by Tim Ballisty , on Apr 24, 2010 7:17 am ET

A very serious situation is unfolding today as all the necessary ingredients are coming together for a destructive tornado outbreak.

Map: Tornado watches and warnings

You can follow the latest news and developments throughout the day concerning this tornado outbreak on weather.com's News and Development's page.


<CENTER>
Severe Thunderstorm Forecast
Click to enlarge</CENTER>
Several tornadoes are likely across the states of Mississippi and Alabama. Some of these tornadoes will be long-tracking, large tornadoes.

It's just not MS and AL however, adjacent states including Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee will also be under the gun for powerful tornadoes, large hail and destructive winds.

Some cities in the target zone today include Lexington (KY), Bowling Green (KY), Nashville (TN), Memphis (TN), Jackson (TN), Birmingham (AL), Tuscaloosa (AL), Jackson (MS), Meridian (MS), Tupelo (MS), Pine Bluff (AR) and Little Rock (AR).
...

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weath...tch_2010-04-24

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues Saturday over the lower Mississippi Valley

Tornadoes rip South; homes reported flattened

Unknown number of injuries as twisters pummel Miss., La.

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var tcdacmd="dt";</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://an.tacoda.net/an/13015/slf.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://an.tacoda.net/an/cda1.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://anrtx.tacoda.net/rtx/r.js?cmd=AGH&si=13015&xs=3&pu=http%253A//today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36755249/%2526ifu%253D&v=5.0&cb=71539"></SCRIPT><IFRAME src="http://an.tacoda.net/an/tpp.html" frameBorder=0 width=0 height=0></IFRAME>breaking news

NBC, msnbc.com and news services
updated 15 minutes ago<SCRIPT language=javascript> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true ));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('634077306421770000');</SCRIPT>

JACKSON, Miss. - Tornadoes touched down in Mississippi and Louisiana on Saturday, damaging several homes and buildings. An unknown number of people were reported injured.

The fire department near Tallulah, La., reported a chemical complex in Omega just north of Tallulah was damaged, with injuries and people trapped, according to NBC News.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency was investigating an unconfirmed report of 30 houses being flattened. The sheriff's office said it was not immediately able to confirm the level of damage.

Jim Pollard of AMR told WAPT-TV the ambulance company had received unconfirmed reports of about 20 homes severely damaged in Yazoo City, Miss., and several ambulances were being sent to the area.

/.../

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36755249/#ixzz0m2qBDgXL

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://an.tacoda.net/an/cda1.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://anrtx.tacoda.net/rtx/r.js?cmd=ADG&si=13015&xs=1&pu=http%253A//www.flutrackers.com/forum/newreply.php%253Fdo%253Dpostreply%2526t%253D145213 %2526ifu%253D&v=5.0&cb=27810"></SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://an.tacoda.net/an/cda1.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://anrtx.tacoda.net/rtx/r.js?cmd=ADG&si=13015&xs=1&pu=http%253A//www.flutrackers.com/forum/newreply.php%253Fdo%253Dpostreply%2526t%253D145213 %2526ifu%253D&v=5.0&cb=16539"></SCRIPT>

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues Saturday over the lower Mississippi Valley

Storm: possible nitrogen leak at chem plant tank

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>var collab_title = 'Storm: possible nitrogen leak at chem plant tank';</SCRIPT><!-- /HEADLINE --><!-- MAIN PHOTO --><!-- /MAIN PHOTO --><!-- BYLINE -->The Associated Press <!-- /BYLINE --><!-- PUBDATE -->
Published: Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 1:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 1:11 p.m.
<!-- /PUBDATE -->
Louisiana State Police say there's a possible nitrogen leak from storm damage to a tank at a chemical plant near Tallulah.


Sgt. James Martin says plant officials don't know of any chemicals leaking from the Complex Chemicals plant itself.

He says he does not know the extent of damage at the plant. Owner Jerry Melton did not immediately reply to an e-mail Saturday.

State Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Rodney Mallett says an emergency responder is going there.

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20...hem-plant-tank

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues Saturday over the lower Mississippi Valley

Tornado Strikes Western Miss., Injuries Reported

<ABBR class="published updated" title=2010-04-24T15:27:26-05:00>Updated: 2 minutes ago</ABBR> AP

JACKSON, Miss. (April 24) -- A tornado touched down Saturday in at least three counties in west-central Mississippi, damaging several buildings and causing injuries, officials said.

The extent of the injuries and how many people were hurt was not immediately clear. At least one person was airlifted to a hospital.

The tornado, which was about ? of a mile wide, was still making its way across state, said Mark McAllister, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson.

Three counties were conducting a "massive response," Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Greg Flynn said. He said he didn't have time to provide the number of those injured.

"It's extensive and it appears to be significant," Flynn said of the damage.

Jim Pollard, a spokesman for American Medical Response ambulance service, said the company dispatched 11 ambulances to Yazoo City. He also confirmed one person with significant injuries was airlifted to a Jackson hospital.

The severe storms swept across the Southeast on Saturday, darkening skies and dumping rain on the region. Many areas were under tornado watches or warnings at some point during the day.

The weather hampered crews trying to clean up an oil spill after an offshore rig exploded earlier this week off the coast of Louisiana. Several sporting events and festivals also were rescheduled.

In Mississippi, the tornado struck Valley Park, Yazoo City and Durant, McAllister said.

"Everything is closed off. It's hard to get emergency personnel in there," he said.

The storms also damaged a church in east-central Mississippi and caused minor damage at Olive Branch Middle School in DeSoto County, just south of Memphis, Tenn.

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/articl...orted/19452935

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues - 9 killed in Mississippi

9 killed as tornado strikes Miss.; others injured By HOLBROOK MOHR

Associated Press Writer ? 2010 The Associated Press
April 24, 2010, 6:56PM

YAZOO CITY, Miss. ? Mississippi official say the death toll has risen to nine from a devastating tornado that flattened homes and businesses in the state. More than a dozen others have been injured.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Greg Flynn said five people were killed in Choctaw County, 3 in Yazoo County and 1 in Holmes County. No names have been released and details are not available.

Two of those dead in Choctaw county are children.
Gov. Haley Barbour told The Associated Press there was "utter obliteration" in parts of Yazoo County, an area where he is from. More than 15 other counties were also damaged.

The swath of debris forced rescuers to pick up some of the injured on all-terrain vehicles.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

YAZOO CITY, Miss. (AP) ? Tornadoes ripped through the Southeast on Saturday, killing six people in Mississippi and injuring more than a dozen others.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Greg Flynn said three deaths were reported in Yazoo County and three in Choctaw County in north-central Mississippi.

Gov. Haley Barbour told The Associated Press there was "utter obliteration" in parts of Yazoo County, an area where he is from. More than 15 other counties were also damaged.

"The effects of these storms have left many Mississippians with destroyed businesses and without homes," Barbour said.

The swath of debris forced rescuers to pick up some of the injured on all-terrain vehicles after a 3/4-mile wide tornado touched down in at least three counties in the west-central part of the state.

Tornadoes were also reported in Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama, and the severe weather continued to track eastward.

In Yazoo City about 40 miles north of Jackson, stunned residents stood on a hill overlooking the destruction. A National Guard helicopter sat nearby, waiting to Barbour on an aerial tour.

"Sad, man," said 22-year-old Rafael Scott, shaking his head. "It's really hard to believe it. I heard they found a couple of bodies."

Three broken crosses stood near a flattened church, and religious materials were scattered among twisted steel, broken wood and furniture.

A nearby funeral home was reduced to rubble. In a patch of woods, pieces of tin were twisted high up in the broken trees.
Josh Nicholson, 26, was driving home through the storm with his wife, 1-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter when a power line fell across the road in front their sport utility vehicle.

"There was nowhere we could go," he said.

Nicholson and his wife took the children out of their car seats and they all huddled in the back of the vehicle. All of the sudden, Nicholson said, the vehicle spun around and a tree clipped part of the truck where the 3-year-old had been sitting. Luckily, nobody was hurt.

"It was scary," Nicholson said.

Downed power lines and trees blocked roads, and at least four people had been brought by four-wheeler to a triage center at an old discount store parking lot, Yazoo City Mayor McArthur Straughter said as sirens whined in the background.

Yazoo County had about 28,000 residents during the last Census count a decade ago. The area is known for its picturesque hills rising abruptly from the Mississippi Delta and features rows of crops, catfish ponds, rivers and bayous.

Jim Pollard, a spokesman for American Medical Response ambulance service, said two patients from Yazoo County were airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

More than a dozen people were treated for cuts, bruises and broken bones in Yazoo City, said Laura Henderson, who works at the hospital there.

"We are fully staffed and ready to take anything that comes in here to the best of our ability," she said, adding that hospital staffers had also been sent to help at a triage center.

/.../

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...l/6974628.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues - 9 killed in Mississippi

Tornado hits chemical plant, shipyard

Updated: Saturday, 24 Apr 2010, 7:54 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 24 Apr 2010, 7:54 PM EDT

TALLULAH, La. (AP) - A tornado slammed into a chemical plant and a shipyard at the Tallulah Port and destroyed 12 houses on Saturday, damaging many others.

Madison Parish Sheriff's Maj. Neil Horath says a dozen people suffered broken bones, cuts or other injuries, and deputies had to clear fallen trees from several yards so people could get out of their houses. But he says nobody was seriously hurt.

Complex Chemicals Co. owner Jerry Melton said he will rebuild his plant, and a police report that people were trapped inside was not correct. He also says a small leak of liquid nitrogen evaporated harmlessly.
Northrop-Grumman Corp. spokesman Bill Glenn says the shipyard will be closed Monday to assess damages.

State Trooper Mark Dennis said a tractor-trailer was overturned shortly before the plant was hit.

http://www.wtnh.com/dpps/news/nation...ipyard_3328153

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues - 10 killed in Mississippi

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama
Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:21pm EDT

Tornado kills 10 in Mississippi: officials

(Reuters) - A tornado nearly a mile wide ripped through central Mississippi on Saturday, killing 10 people, including three children, and injuring dozens of others, state authorities said.

U.S.

The tornado struck at least 13 counties, destroying scores of homes and trapping people inside, damaging businesses, blocking highways and knocking out power to thousands, said the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Five people died in Choctaw County, four in Yazoo County and one in Holmes County, said Greg Flynn, spokesman at the agency.
Governor Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency after the first major U.S. tornado of the year.

"It has done huge damage around Yazoo City," Barbour, who grew up in the city, told CBS television.

"We have fatalities, a number of people that we're still trying to rescue who are trapped in buildings. But it is a major, significant tornado ... and it did some huge damage and perhaps some fatalities north of here," Barbour said.

/.../

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63N1T520100425

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - Tornado threat continues - 10 killed in Mississippi

Deadly Miss. tornado likely started in Louisiana

The Associated Press
Saturday, April 24, 2010; 10:12 PM

JACKSON, Miss. -- The National Weather Service says it appears the deadly tornado that swept across Mississippi formed to the west in
Louisiana before hitting a string of cities.

Meteorologist Mark McCallister says it appears the storm started in Tallulah, La., and went on to Yazoo City, Miss. There was also a strike north of Vicksburg, just over the state line from Tallulah. Strikes at Durant, Starkville and Columbus Air Force Base are almost in a northeastern line from those three and may have been from the same tornado.

McCallister says it will be several days before storm surveys can confirm the path, and if it was one long-lasting tornado or several shorter ones.

It's also not clear if the storm maintained contact with the ground the entire time or touched down multiple times.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042402794.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak -10 killed in Mississippi

Tornado that hit Mississippi believed to be an F-3

Posted:<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> wnRenderDate('Monday, April 26, 2010 8:24 AM EST', '', true);</SCRIPT> Apr 26, 2010 7:24 AM CDT <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!--END wnDate-->Updated:<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> wnRenderDate('Monday, April 26, 2010 8:25 AM EST', '', true);</SCRIPT> Apr 26, 2010 7:25 AM CDT <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!--END wnDate-->
<!--END WNStoryHeader-->
A National Weather Service meteorologist is saying a tornado that devastated parts of Mississippi had winds of 160 miles an hour and left a path of destruction at least 50 miles long.
Marc McAlister of the weather service said Sunday a preliminary survey showed the tornado was on a continuous track over two counties in west-central Mississippi, passing by Yazoo City.

He says the tornado was an EF-3, which is rated severe, and had a maximum width of 1- 1/2 miles.
McAlister says crews will now begin checking the tornado's path to the southwest to Tallulah, La., just across the state line with Mississippi, as well as farther northeast of Yazoo County.

That survey may take a couple of days to complete.
At least 10 people were killed Saturday when the tornado ripped through the rural Mississippi countryside.

http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12374049

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - 10 killed in Mississippi






<!-- end photoProvider --><CITE id=photoTimestamp>Sun Apr 25, 9:12 PM ET</CITE>


<!-- end photo cont -->



<!-- end photoProvider --><CITE id=photoTimestamp>Sun Apr 25, 8:27 PM ET</CITE>
<CITE></CITE>
<CITE>

<!-- end photoProvider --><CITE id=photoTimestamp>Sun Apr 25, 7:22 PM ET</CITE>



<!-- end photoProvider --><CITE id=photoTimestamp>Sun Apr 25, 8:48 AM ET</CITE>


<!-- end photo cont -->


<!-- end photoProvider --><CITE id=photoTimestamp>Sat Apr 24, 11:02 PM ET</CITE>

/.../
<!-- end photo cont -->



More at:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Tornad...32ff693f2b18a0
</CITE><!-- end photoProvider -->

[Pathfinder]

Re: Severe Weather Outbreak - 10 killed in Mississippi

<TABLE class=full cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=full>MIssissippi tornado rated a violent EF-4


</TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Updated: 3:49 PM GMT on April 27, 2010

The devastating tornado that ripped through Mississippi on Saturday April 24, killing ten, was a violent EF-4 twister with 170 mph winds when it hit Yazoo City, according to a preliminary damage survey by the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi. The tornado touched down near Tallulah, Louisiana, crossed the Mississippi River into Mississippi, and traversed nearly the entire state of Mississippi, carving a 149-mile long path of destruction. It is extremely rare for a tornado to stay on the ground this long. The world record longest path by a tornado is the 219-mile long path of the deadliest tornado in U.S. history, the violent F-5 Tri-State Tornado of 1925, which killed 695 people in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

Saturday's tornado was strong almost from its initial stage of development in northeast Louisiana. EF-2 and EF-3 damage was common all along the tornado's path into central Mississippi with areas of EF-4 damage observed in both Yazoo and Holmes counties. After crossing Interstate 55, the tornado weakened with EF-1 and occasional EF-2 damage being common as the tornado moved across Attala County. The tornado re-intensified as it moved into Choctaw County, with at least high end EF-3 damage occurring northwest of the Weir community. The tornado remained strong before rapidly weakening and then dissipating just after moving into Oktibbeha County. It was the first violent EF-4 tornado of 2010. Over the past decade, the U.S. has averaged five violent EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes per year. Our severe weather expert, Dr. Rob Carver, has a more detailed analysis of Saturday's tornado.
/.../

VIDEO of the tornado at:

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Jef...?entrynum=1469