May: Isolated Showers To End The Month

[unome]

what a day ! http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html



more on tap for today, will update at 1300z http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Severe Weather Outlook (PWO)
Experimental Multimedia Briefing MP4 http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outloo ... 190857.mp4
Please note this briefing may be out of date after 1342 UTC on 05/19/2013 and there will be no subsequent updates during the day.
Please send comments or questions to spc.feedback@noaa.gov or using the feedback page.


ZCZC SPCPWOSPC ALL
WOUS40 KWNS 190804
KSZ000-MOZ000-NEZ000-OKZ000-191800-

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0304 AM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL UNITED
STATES LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS
OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE

EASTERN KANSAS
WESTERN MISSOURI
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE
CENTRAL PLAINS...MIDWEST...AND MIDDLE/UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST FOR MUCH OF THE
CENTRAL UNITED STATES TODAY INTO TONIGHT AS A STORM SYSTEM OVER THE
ROCKIES MOVES SLOWLY EASTWARD. THE AREA OF GREATEST RISK APPEARS TO
EXTEND FROM CENTRAL OKLAHOMA NORTHEASTWARD INTO PARTS OF EASTERN
KANSAS...WESTERN MISSOURI...AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. VERY MOIST AND
UNSTABLE CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH FAVORABLE WINDS ALOFT WILL RESULT
IN A RISK OF A FEW STRONG TORNADOES...VERY LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY
DAMAGING WINDS IN THE MOST INTENSE STORMS.

STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE MONITORING THIS DEVELOPING
SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE
WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER
TODAY.

..HART.. 05/19/2013

$$

[unome]

Love these SPC Tools

Storm-Scale Ensemble of Opportunity http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sseo/

Short Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF) Products http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sref/

Mesoscale Analysis http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/new/

Observed Sounding Archive http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/soundings/
( great help tool for understanding soundings http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/soundings/help/index.html )

Tornado Environment Browser http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/envbrowser/

Upper Air Maps http://www.spc.noaa.gov/obswx/maps/

[srainhoutx]

The over night guidance as well as the 12Z meso model in their longer range continue to advertise a weak boundary as well as an upper level disturbance approaching Tuesday night into Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center has out lined a Slight Risk for Severe Storms later on Tuesday as that impulse slides E across Central Texas. It appears that a potential meso scale convective system may be the culprit. We'll need to monitor of any cold pooling and outflow boundaries that may assist is storm development during the day on Wednesday.

[djjordan]

I won't say this very often .... but it actually felt good to get out in the sun and heat and sweat this afternoon. LOL

[Portastorm]

Well, it's been a few springs (the month of May to be exact) since we have seen this in Austin but the Mexican ag fire smoke has been pretty bad the last few days. Very hazy conditions, impaired air quality, and a definite smell of smoke in the air. Has this impacted southeast Texas at all? I know it's been getting slowly worse here in Austin and it must be worse in San Antonio and the Valley.

[rnmm]

I know Friday here in Santa Fe we could see and smell the smoke faintly and in my area of the city, we haven't been able too since then. I hope your air quality improves soon!!

[cperk]

I won't say this very often .... but it actually felt good to get out in the sun and heat and sweat this afternoon. LOL

djjordan don't worry there's plenty left where that came from.

[cperk]

Well, it's been a few springs (the month of May to be exact) since we have seen this in Austin but the Mexican ag fire smoke has been pretty bad the last few days. Very hazy conditions, impaired air quality, and a definite smell of smoke in the air. Has this impacted southeast Texas at all? I know it's been getting slowly worse here in Austin and it must be worse in San Antonio and the Valley.

Portastorm i noticed some here Friday,but i have'nt noticed hardly any since.

[unome]

another stormy day

Experimental Multimedia Briefing MP4. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/pwo.mp4


Public Severe Weather Outlook (PWO) http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/pwo.html

Please note this briefing may be out of date after 1604 UTC on 05/20/2013 and there will be no subsequent updates during the day. Please send comments or questions to spc.feedback@noaa.gov or using the feedback page.


ZCZC SPCPWOSPC ALL
WOUS40 KWNS 200947
ARZ000-KSZ000-MOZ000-OKZ000-TXZ000-201800-

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0447 AM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
INTO THE OZARKS AND MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS
OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO THE OZARKS AND MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
FAR SOUTHEAST KANSAS
SOUTHERN MISSOURI
SOUTHERN...CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA
FAR NORTH TEXAS

ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM...THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND UPPER GREAT LAKES REGION TO CENTRAL TEXAS

ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE STORMS IS FORECAST AS A STORM SYSTEM MOVES
FROM THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TODAY AND INTO
THE OZARKS AND MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT. THE AREA OF
GREATEST RISK APPEARS TO EXTEND FROM FAR NORTH TEXAS INTO CENTRAL
AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA...FAR SOUTHEAST KANSAS...NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND
SOUTHERN MISSOURI. A VERY MOIST ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME QUITE
UNSTABLE AGAIN TODAY. THIS COMBINED WITH STRONG FAVORABLE WINDS
ALOFT WILL RESULT IN A RISK OF A FEW STRONG TORNADOES...VERY LARGE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN THE MOST INTENSE STORMS.

STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE MONITORING THIS DEVELOPING
SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE
WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER
TODAY.

..PETERS.. 05/20/2013

$$

[srainhoutx]

Morning e-mail from Jeff:

Plume of smoke has returned into the area this morning from agricultural fires burning on the western coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Late evening visible images yesterday should a widespread and at times dense area of smoke over much of the Bay of Campeche and western Gulf of Mexico and with southerly winds advecting this plume northward it has arrived into TX overnight. Will continue to see periodic intrusions of dense smoke (visibilities 3-6 miles) as long as southerly winds remain in place which looks like most of this week.

Ridging has built over the area this weekend allowing hot afternoon high temperatures and continued moist onshore flow keeping dewpoints in the sticky 70’s making it feel like summer. Luckily south winds of 15-25mph have helped mix the afternoon air making it feel a touch cooler. Little chance in the overall pattern is expected today and Tuesday although a strong short wave trough will swing through the base of the large trough over the western US late Tuesday. West and central TX dry line will surge eastward in the afternoon hours on Tuesday with the air mass becoming very unstable across central TX. Significant capping is shown on the morning soundings with the placement of the upper level ridge nearby and it is going to be hard to erode this cap on Tuesday. However think storms will break the cap and rapidly go severe with CAPE values of 2500-3500 J/kg over central TX by late afternoon. Main threat will be extreme hail although 40-50kts of WSW shear could support a tornado. Initial isolated supercells will gradually grow upscale into a line of storms with the threats shifting to wind damage overnight. Current thinking is that these storms may approach or even move across the northern 1/3rd of SE TX Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but the southern extent of this activity will be strongly tied to the intensity of the capping over the region. Currently looking hard pressed to break the cap south of HWY 105.

A low level boundary looks to sink southward from these storms on Wednesday and this may offer a window for storms to develop in the afternoon hours if the cap can be overcome.

Otherwise continued hot and humid with breezy onshore flow and periods of smoke/haze.

[srainhoutx]

Taking a brief look toward the Memorial Day Holiday, the operational and ensemble guidance suggest a persistent Western trough will continue with some upper Ridging in place over the Lone Star State. There are some indications via the longer range guidance that the Western Caribbean will become active with some potential for tropical development in that Region and possibly entering the Western Gulf during the first week of June.

[Ptarmigan]

Taking a brief look toward the Memorial Day Holiday, the operational and ensemble guidance suggest a persistent Western trough will continue with some upper Ridging in place over the Lone Star State. There are some indications via the longer range guidance that the Western Caribbean will become active with some potential for tropical development in that Region and possibly entering the Western Gulf during the first week of June.

Could get rather interesting by June.

[srainhoutx]

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0727
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0119 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

AREAS AFFECTED...CNTRL TX

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY

VALID 201819Z - 202015Z

PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE...95 PERCENT

SUMMARY...A FEW SUPERCELLS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG THE DRYLINE
LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WITH VERY LARGE HAIL LIKELY. AN ISOLATED
TORNADO IS POSSIBLE. A WATCH IS LIKELY BEFORE 20Z.

DISCUSSION...STRONG HEATING PERSISTS ACROSS CNTRL/WRN TX WITH VERY
STRONG INSTABILITY IN PLACE E OF THE DRYLINE. VISIBLE IMAGERY SHOWS
TCU INCREASING OVER THROCKMORTON AND YOUNG COUNTIES...WITH
ADDITIONAL CU SW OF SEP. ALTHOUGH WELL S OF THE JET...DEEP LAYER
SHEAR VALUES AND OVERALL HODOGRAPH LENGTH WITH INCREASING UPPER
LEVEL WINDS WILL BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELLS. AMPLE
MOISTURE AND COLD PROFILES ALOFT WILL RESULT IN VERY LARGE DAMAGING
HAIL.

THIS EVENING...CAPPING WILL INHIBIT EWD PROGRESSION OF THESE
CELLS...LIKELY DYING CLOSE TO I-35 BY 03Z.

..JEWELL/KERR.. 05/20/2013


ATTN...WFO...FWD...OUN...EWX...SJT...

[srainhoutx]

The Strom Prediction Center adds a Moderate Risk for portions of E/NE Texas/NW Louisiana/Arkansas for tomorrow:

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1228 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

VALID 211200Z - 221200Z

...THERE IS A MDT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER NERN TX...EXTREME SERN
OK...CENTRAL AND SRN AR...AND NWRN LA...

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM TX INTO THE GREAT LAKES
REGION...

...SYNOPSIS...
UPPER FLOW PATTERN IS FORECAST TO CHANGE SLOWLY THROUGH TOMORROW AS
AN UPPER LOW OVER THE NRN PLAINS DRIFTS EWD AND WEAKENS GRADUALLY
WHILE AN UPSTREAM COLD LOW DROPS SEWD ALONG THE PACIFIC NW COAST. A
SHORT WAVE TROUGH EVIDENT NOW OVER THE FOUR-CORNERS AREA IS EXPECTED
TO TRANSLATE EWD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON BEFORE
LIFTING NEWD AND BECOMING ABSORBED INTO THE SERN PERIPHERY OF THE
NRN PLAINS UPPER LOW. IN THE SOUTHEAST...A WEAK UPPER LOW IS
FORECAST TO DRIFT OVER THE FL PENINSULA.

AT THE SURFACE...A LOW OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL EVOLVE SLOWLY EWD
AND WEAKEN GRADUALLY...WHILE A TRAILING COLD FRONT EXTENDING SWWD
FROM THE LOW ACROSS THE MIDDLE MS VALLEY SWWD INTO OK AND TX WILL
DRIFT SEWD. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT PRE-FRONTAL CONVECTION
DURING THE DAY 1 OVERNIGHT HOURS WILL RESULT IN OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES
LOCATED WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR AT THE START OF THE PERIOD...AND
THESE ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS FOR SUBSEQUENT
THUNDERSTORM REDEVELOPMENT DURING THE DIURNAL HEATING CYCLE ON
TUESDAY.

...AR/SERN OK/NERN AND CENTRAL TX...
MODEL CONSENSUS /INCLUDING CONVECTION-ALLOWING MODEL ENSEMBLES/
SUGGESTS THAT CONVECTION WILL BE OVER PARTS OF AR/OK AND NRN TX
EARLY IN THE PERIOD...WITH A COMPOSITE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXTENDING
FROM SERN AR INTO NERN/NORTH CENTRAL TX EARLY IN THE PERIOD. SOUTH
OF THE BOUNDARY A WARM/MOIST AIR MASS WILL BE PRESENT WITH SURFACE
DEW POINTS IN THE UPPER 60S-LOWER 70S...AND WITH ENHANCED DIABATIC
HEATING ANTICIPATED INTO THE AFTERNOON COUPLED WITH PRE-EXISTING
MODERATE MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES...MLCAPE OF 3000-3500 J/KG IS
EXPECTED BY THE AFTERNOON. AS THE AFOREMENTIONED SHORT WAVE TROUGH
PROGRESSES EWD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON...STORM
INITIATION IS EXPECTED FROM SERN OK/SWRN AR INTO PARTS OF NRN TX
NEAR THE EARLIER OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE LIKELY TO
DEVELOP SWWD NEAR/AHEAD OF THE WEAKENING FRONT INTO CENTRAL
TX...WITH ALL ACTIVITY SPREADING EWD/NEWD THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

ALTHOUGH LOW-LEVEL WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE AOB 20-25 KT...FORECAST
SOUNDINGS INDICATE WINDS WILL INCREASE AND VEER WITH HEIGHT IN
RESPONSE TO THE PROGRESSIVE SHORT WAVE TROUGH...PROVIDING SUFFICIENT
VERTICAL SHEAR FOR ORGANIZED CONVECTIVE STRUCTURES INCLUDING A FEW
SUPERCELLS TO DEVELOP. VERY LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...AND
POSSIBLY A FEW TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WHERE
BOUNDARY INTERACTIONS MAY ENHANCE LOW LEVEL SHEAR/SRH. ACTIVITY IS
EXPECTED TO GROW UPSCALE BY EVENING WITH SEVERAL QLCS/S FORMING
WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN WIND DAMAGE POTENTIAL. ACTIVITY
IS THEN EXPECTED TO WEAKEN GRADUALLY BY 03-6Z AS THE SHORT WAVE
TROUGH LIFTS NEWD AWAY FROM THE REGION AND DIURNAL COOLING BEGINS TO
STABILIZE THE BOUNDARY LAYER.

...MID MS VALLEY NEWD INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION...
OVERNIGHT CONVECTION ACROSS MUCH OF THIS REGION WILL TEMPORARILY
STABILIZE THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD...AND
WILL RESULT IN A COMPLEX MESOSCALE SURFACE PATTERN WITHIN THE WARM
SECTOR. AS CONVECTION CONTINUES TO WEAKEN OVER THIS AREA DURING THE
MORNING...BREAKS IN CLOUDS WILL PERMIT REGIONS OF ENHANCED DIABATIC
HEATING AND DESTABILIZATION TO OCCUR AMIDST A WARM/MOIST LOW LEVEL
ENVIRONMENT. ZONES OF ENHANCED LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG REMNANT
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR STORM REDEVELOPMENT BY
EARLY-MID AFTERNOON. SWLY MID LEVEL WINDS OF 35-45 KT WILL PROVIDE
SUFFICIENT DEEP LAYER SHEAR FOR ORGANIZED STRONG/SEVERE STORMS TO
DEVELOP...WITH A THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND
POSSIBLY A FEW TORNADOES MAINLY THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR SEPARATE BANDS OF STRONG/SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG/AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT ARCING ACROSS
WI DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

...LOWER GREAT LAKES INTO NY/WRN MA...
GUIDANCE INDICATES STRONGER STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG/NORTH OF A
WARM FRONT LIFTING SLOWLY NWD ACROSS THIS AREA. ALTHOUGH LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE WILL BE INCREASING...WEAKER MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL TEND
TO LIMIT THE OVERALL MAGNITUDE OF INSTABILITY WITH MLCAPE OF
1000-1500 J/KG EXPECTED. THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED
SEVERE STORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BUT WITH THE
STRONGER MID LEVEL WINDS EXPECTED TO BE DISPLACED NWD AWAY FROM THE
WARM FRONT...POTENTIAL FOR A MORE WIDESPREAD THREAT WILL BE LIMITED.
IF LARGER INSTABILITY THAN CURRENTLY EXPECTED DEVELOPS...AN UPGRADE
TO SLIGHT RISK MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

..WEISS.. 05/20/2013

[srainhoutx]

Tornado Watch issued for N Central Texas:

Code: Select all

WOUS64 KWNS 201918
     WOU2
     
     BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
     TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 192
     NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
     220 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013
     
     TORNADO WATCH 192 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR THE
      FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     
     TXC049-053-059-083-085-093-095-097-121-133-143-147-171-181-193-
     221-237-265-267-281-299-307-319-327-333-337-363-367-399-411-417-
     425-429-441-447-497-503-210300-
     /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0192.130520T1920Z-130521T0300Z/
     
     TX 
     .    TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
     
     BROWN                BURNET              CALLAHAN            
     COLEMAN              COLLIN              COMANCHE            
     CONCHO               COOKE               DENTON              
     EASTLAND             ERATH               FANNIN              
     GILLESPIE            GRAYSON             HAMILTON            
     HOOD                 JACK                KERR                
     KIMBLE               LAMPASAS            LLANO               
     MASON                MCCULLOCH           MENARD              
     MILLS                MONTAGUE            PALO PINTO          
     PARKER               RUNNELS             SAN SABA            
     SHACKELFORD          SOMERVELL           STEPHENS            
     TAYLOR               THROCKMORTON        WISE                
     YOUNG                
     
     
     ATTN...WFO...SJT...FWD...EWX...

[TexasBreeze]

Very strong tornado moving through Moore, OK. Crazy radar sig looks like a mini 'hurricane'.

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 323 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

OKC027-109-202045-/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-130520T2045Z/OKLAHOMA OK-CLEVELAND OK-323 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND NORTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR MOORE AND SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY...

AT 320 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO LOCATED NEAR MOORE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO...LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP TO TENNIS BALL SIZE IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MIDWEST CITY...MOORE...STANLEY DRAPER LAKE...TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND VALLEY BROOK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IF YOU CANNOT GET UNDERGROUND GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A STURDY BUILDING NOW.

TAKE COVER NOW IN A STORM SHELTER OR AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A STURDY BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS. &&

LAT...LON 3529 9751 3536 9756 3547 9738 3527 9728 TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 254DEG 18KT 3533 9749

$$ 30

[Rip76]

Oh man this is completely horrible....
Moore, Ok...

Ch. 4 live stream
http://kfor.com/on-air/live-streaming/

my goodness....

[srainhoutx]

From Jeff:

Massive devastating tornado has impacted the towns of Moore and Newcastle, OK in the last hour just south of OKC metro area. It appears the tornado may have been upwards of 1.5-2 miles wide and has caused near total devastation to several subdivisions.

A third significant tornado outbreak in as many days is currently in progress from N TX to SE KS including most of central and eastern OK. Extremely destructive, long tracked, and life threatening tornadoes are possible.

[djjordan]

That's incredible. Looks even worse (And I thought it couldn't be any worse) than the May 1999 Tornado that hit Moore, OK. Thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by this outbreak.

[srainhoutx]

Update from Jeff:

Appears a high end catastrophic tornado event has struck the city of Moore, OK. Based on helicopter footage I can count at least 8 straight blocks of what is easily EF 4 possibly EF 5 damage including a direct hit on an elementary school with students and staff. This tornado would not be survivable if not below ground. Numerous homes have been cleared from their slabs suggesting high end damage rating. Appears this is on the level of the Joplin, MO and Alabama tornadoes of 2011 of a large destructive tornado in an urban area.

Note: empty slabs (EF5 damage) in the top middle of the screen:

Elementary school

[/i]