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May 9, 2003

OKC Tornado

Passing along information from chasers on the storm (Tim Marshall, Gene Rhoden, and more)...

Damage is apparently very significant. Wedge tornado currently on the ground just south of and paralleling I-44 (Turner Turnpike) near Jones.

UPDATE: Tornado still moving northeast along the Turner Turnpike. Amos is on the storm, reporting continued power flashes.

UPDATE: Tornado now over open country, very close to the Turner Turnpike in the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma County. Next decent-sized town in the path is Chandler. Nice hook and TVS on radar. Everyone and their brother is on or either has been on the storm. Right now, I'm banging my head on the desk.

UPDATE: Tornado looks to pretty much be right on the Turner Turnpike, entering Lincoln County. I would assume the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has cleared the road of all traffic.

UPDATE: Wow...an anticyclonic left split has just emerged from the north side of the storm, moving northeast into Payne County. The original, tornado-producing supercell will likely begin moving more easterly now. Low-level jet ahead of the storm is cranked, and storm relative helicity values are favorable for a continued tornado threat.

UPDATE: NWS Tulsa passes along a report of a major traffic jam near Stroud, 15 miles northeast of the tornado's current position, along I-44. That needs to be taken care of now.

UPDATE: Storm isn't looking quite as good on radar. Perhaps it's re-organizing following the storm-split? On radar at least, the meso appears to be getting elongated. Most chasers have broken off of the storm by now, and if they haven't, they probably should at first opportunity. That stretch of I-44 doesn't really offer any quick exits, being a turnpike and all.


Tornado near Attica, KS - May 29, 2004


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