Update: Tuesday Intensity Ratings May 31, 2011

 

...UPDATED INTENSITY RATINGS FOR STORMS 3...4...5 AND 7...

NOTE: NWS CONTINUES TO ANALYZE SURVEY RESULTS. THE BINGER-EL
RENO-PIEMONT-GUTHRIE TORNADO IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED AND COULD
BE RATED HIGHER.

...EVENT OVERVIEW...

STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES MOVED ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN AND
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS OF
MAY 24TH.  STORMS INITIALLY FORMED ACROSS SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND
QUICKLY BECAME SEVERE AS THEY MOVED NORTHEAST.  SEVERAL OF THESE
STORMS PRODUCED TORNADOES ALONG WITH VERY LARGE HAIL.  ANOTHER
CONCENTRATED AREA OF SEVERE STORMS MOVED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA BETWEEN 7 AND 10 PM.

STORM 1... CANTON LAKE

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: EF-3
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): UNKNOWN
INJURIES/FATALITIES: 2/0
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 6 NW CANTON 315 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 5 NNW LONGDALE 343 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 9 MILES
WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

STORM 2... BINGER-EL RENO-PIEDMONT-GUTHRIE

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: AT LEAST EF-4
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): UNKNOWN
INJURIES/FATALITIES: UNKNOWN/9
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 8 WNW BINGER 3:30 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 4 NE GUTHRIE 5:35 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 75 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

STORM 3... CHICKASHA-BLANCHARD-NEWCASTLE-MOORE

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: EF-4
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 190
INJURIES/FATALITIES: UNKNOWN/1
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 2 SOUTH OF CHICKASHA 5:09 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 5 S WILL ROGERS AP 6:00 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 30 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

STORM 4... WASHINGTON-GOLDSBY

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: EF-4
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 190
INJURIES/FATALITIES: UNKNOWN/NONE
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 4 SW BRADLEY 5:26 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 1 NW GOLDSBY 6:05 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 27 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

STORM 5... PAYNE COUNTY

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 130
INJURIES/FATALITIES: UNKNOWN/NONE
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 9 SW STILLWATER 5:50 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 3 SE STILLWATER 6:05 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 10 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

STORM 6... STELLA

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: UNKNOWN
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): UNKNOWN
INJURIES/FATALITIES: 1/NONE
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 2 E STELLA 628 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 5 S MCLOUD  634 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 4 MILES
WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.


STORM 7... JOHNSTON COUNTY

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: MAY 24, 2011
EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
EF RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 95
INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE/NONE
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 1 NW RAVIA 730 PM CDT
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 2 N TISHOMINGO 745 PM CDT
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 6 MILES
WIDTH: UNKNOWN
NOTE:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED.

-Damon

 

Yes, It’s Still Snowing May 31, 2011

Yes, it’s just about June 1st and some areas in Colorado are still getting a ton of snow. Thanks to my friends in Breckenridge for proving this shot, looking at TenMile Range of all the snow. Getting snow above 10000 feet is certainly not unheard of this time of year. But, what is hard to believe is just how cool and how deep the snow still is in The Rockies. Some areas still have over 10 feet!

The snow melt will accelerate in the coming weeks as we head closer toward the summer season. At this elevation (10,000 feet-14,000 feet), the average lows will range anywhere from the 20s-40s and daytime highs could approach 60 within the coming weeks. So, the snow may not last long, but it’s still a sight to see.

-Damon

May In Review May 31, 2011

It’s been a wacky month, but then again, this is May and we except the weather to be crazy. So, how crazy was this month? Let the graphic do the talking!

Temperatures slightly above normal ( just barely) and rainfall that was well above normal. To be honest, this month, other than the severe weather, turned out better than we could have hoped. The drought was getting nasty and we needed to see the rain come in when it was suppose to. Which it did, and then some.

So, all-in-all, May was a good month for us when it comes to improving the drought. Let’s keep the rain coming!

-Damon

Where Did These Winds Come From? May 30, 2011

No doubt about it. It’s been windy today. How windy? Here are a few select wind speeds from the state since midnight.

So, where did these winds come from??? It came from a number of sources …. low pressure system to the north and a high pressure system well east of here.

Notice the isobars on the map above and how tight they are together. Each line represents an area of equal pressure. Each line represents 1 millibar (mb). If you look closely, you will see a 12 mb difference across Oklahoma. The tighter the pressure gradient, the windier the conditions. Fortunately, look at the following graphic and notice where the tight white lines are for tomorrow. They are well north of here and for Oklahoma… our white lines/pressure gradient will not be as tight.

So, enjoy the lighter winds… and the fact that if you’re driving north, your gas mileage will improve.

-Damon

Summer Heat Rolling In? May 30, 2011

They say that Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the summer season. No doubt about it, it was warm this past weekend and that warmth will be rolling into June. A large high pressure ridge will set up east of here by the end of the week allowing our weather to remain warm. And, given the placement of the high, southeasterly winds off the Gulf Coast will continue to pump in moisture and keep our humidity somewhat up there.

The record highs for the beginning of June are in the upper 90s and lower 100s. This Saturday, which has a record high of 95 degrees in the books could see that record fall as the forecasted high temperature that day right now is in the upper 90s. Ouch… utility bill.

-Damon

2011 Tornadoes So Far May 30, 2011

We knew earlier this year that we had the potential to see a higher than normal tornado year. La Nina weather events tend to produce more tornadoes than an El Nino year and thus, if past history is any indicator of future performance, then we had a hunch that there could be a few outbreaks this year. Of course, we didn’t want to see what we have seen though, which is an estimated of almost 1400 tornado reports.

So, here are a few stats to keep in mind about this years tornadoes. Of the 1400 tornado reports, 995 of been confirmed.

The graphic above shows the ratings that have been assigned to the tornadoes so far this year (though many have not been assigned ratings yet). And while May is usually the most active tornado month of the entire year, April will likely hold that title as this May has been slightly below average with the tornado reports. On average, May sees 322 tornadoes, and while our preliminary count is 323, it’s important to remember that many of those reports are duplicates.

-Damon

 

The Heat is On… Kinda… May 30, 2011

The heat was on Sunday …well, kinda. Oklahoma City set a record Sunday for the warmest low temperature for that date, which was 74 degrees. This means that never before on that date had the low temperature been that warm. The reason for the warmth? The moisture in the atmosphere was substantial and the winds were strong enough to add a lot of friction. The more moisture you have and the stronger the winds, the harder the atmosphere has to work to cool itself down. Thus, the reason for the mild “low” lows.

But, despite the warm morning low, the afternoon high temperature wasn’t all that bad. We warmed into the upper 80s, which means we only had a 15 degree change in temperature from daytime high to the low.

As of this writing, the coolest temperature has been 74 degrees. That will at least tie us for another “warmest low” temperature. Bring on the 60s!!!

-Damon

Holy Rainfall…..! May 30, 2011

May has certainlly lived up to its standards here in Oklahoma City and then some. It’s the month that is suppose to be wetter than any other month of the entire year. Has it? You know it!

We have seen more rain this month than what we saw from August all the way to April combined. That’s right, more rain in the last 4 weeks than what we had for the last 8 months. May has been good to us in the rainfall department (not the severe dept though.) and because of the rain, we have seen drastic improvements to our drought. So, how is the drought looking now with all the rain?

For Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman, the drought has seen a huge improvement and is now listed as the weakest drought you can have. (ABNORMALLY DRY). And even the coverage of the EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, which is the worst you can have, has seen a major pullback with only Western Oklahoma and portions of The Panhandle seeing the worse drought conditions. 3 months ago, 100% of the state had some form of a drought going on. Today, that number has been lowered to only 68% of the state seeing a drought.

And as long as we can keep the rains coming in June, then we should continue to see the drought improve by a lot (that is, if it falls west of I-35). The average rainfall for June is about 4.6 inches.

-Damon

 

Your Memorial Day May 30, 2011

…and night!  The wind is ferocious out there!!  S winds are gusting over 40mph at times.  There is a wind Advisory in effect til 8pm.

Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.  Lows will be near 70 with a slight chance for an isolated shower or storm.

The best chance for storm will be in Northern Oklahoma.

Sarah

Memorial Weekend Forecast May 27, 2011

Slight risk for storms today

Warm into the weekend.

Sarah