My backyard maple is no longer the tallest around. OG&E did a good job of getting power back on in Mustang. Missing some shingles.

I was several miles south of Mustang and though I could see a tornado though the haze?
But it wasn’t a clear view.
I was concerned that it might grow and head into the Moore Norman area.

I was several miles south of Mustang and though I could see a tornado though the haze?
But it wasn’t a clear view.
I was concerned that it might grow and head into the Moore Norman area.

I had bailed with the wife and ferret and started heading south and west. I would stop somewhere and they would holler twister. Ended up in Anadarko. Took forever to get back home. Couldn't sleep without my cpap running. 10 min naps and wake up. Going to sleep like a drunk baby tonight.

It was the getting back that was so slow. So many stoplights out. Passing all the windmill power towers was interesting last night. Mostly dark with blinking red lights on them. I heard them saying on the radio that the interstates were like a parking lot.

It was the getting back that was so slow. So many stoplights out. Passing all the windmill power towers was interesting last night. Mostly dark with blinking red lights on them. I heard them saying on the radio that the interstates were like a parking lot.

Even well away from OKC the interstates and many other state roads were like parking lots. I have an atlas map of all the county roads in Oklahoma. I used it to navigate the back roads, but many of them were still pretty crowed. I think my days of storm chasing even from a very safe distance are over. There were just too many dangerous drivers.

Even well away from OKC the interstates and many other state roads were like parking lots. I have an atlas map of all the county roads in Oklahoma. I used it to navigate the back roads, but many of them were still pretty crowed. I think my days of storm chasing even from a very safe distance are over. There were just too many dangerous drivers.

The Oklahoma Atlas and Gazetter is a handy little thing to have. The back roads I headed out on were to flooded to come back on, that and a tree across one made me stick to state highways.

people... wish i could've been here yesterday to handle these off-topic posts sooner. again, let's leave any drama out of this thread. thanks. -M

lots of off topic posts removed... if you want to debate where you think folks should live, start another thread. -M

Sad news...just saw a release that 3 of those killed in El Reno were storm chasers. One was the well known and renowned Tim Samaras from the Discovery show Storm Chasers. His son and a crew member were also killed. Tim was considered one of the safest and most cautious of chasers. Sad, sad, beyond sad. I really admired Tim and his work.

Sad news...just saw a release that 3 of those killed in El Reno were storm chasers. One was the well known and renowned Tim Samaras from the Discovery show Storm Chasers. His son and a crew member were also killed. Tim was considered one of the safest and most cautious of chasers. Sad, sad, beyond sad. I really admired Tim and his work.

I saw that too.... Storm chasers among Oklahoma fatalities - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/02/us/midwest-weather/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)

Word is now that they were killed when they got "stuck in storm chaser convergence." Nice way of saying too many chasers on some small county road and they couldn't get out of the way. Sad

Can someone please explain why the EF scale starts at 0 and not 1? Sorry if this is such an elementary question.

Word is now that they were killed when they got "stuck in storm chaser convergence." Nice way of saying too many chasers on some small county road and they couldn't get out of the way. Sad

The increasing chaser convergence is one of the reasons I put the keys, laptop, and ham radio up a few years ago. When I started in the mid 90s it would be you and maybe a couple other guys out there on a storm. No congestion on the roads and you also had to use your head - mobile radar was rare you had people that would nowcast you into position. GPS wasn't completely common yet...Delorme Oklahoma atlas and Roads of Texas were the tools there. It came down to know storm struction, envisioning what you think it was going to do, and then enact your plan.

Today it seems it is more about get your HD camera with boom mic ready and your laptop with radar and video streaming capabilities connected to mobile wifi. People spend too much time looking at the screen than at the sky. From what I know, Tim was definitely one of the more cautious and experienced guys out there. Definitely nothing like the new crop of kids I saw pop up about 10 years ago who seem to be more into it for the thrill than the enjoyment of nature and providing valuable reports back through the proper channels. Around 2007 chasing in Texas was when I noticed things were just going to get too dangerous out there. Not from the storms...from the vast number of people who've taken on the hobby.

The increasing chaser convergence is one of the reasons I put the keys, laptop, and ham radio up a few years ago. When I started in the mid 90s it would be you and maybe a couple other guys out there on a storm. No congestion on the roads and you also had to use your head - mobile radar was rare you had people that would nowcast you into position. GPS wasn't completely common yet...Delorme Oklahoma atlas and Roads of Texas were the tools there. It came down to know storm struction, envisioning what you think it was going to do, and then enact your plan.

Today it seems it is more about get your HD camera with boom mic ready and your laptop with radar and video streaming capabilities connected to mobile wifi. People spend too much time looking at the screen than at the sky. From what I know, Tim was definitely one of the more cautious and experienced guys out there. Definitely nothing like the new crop of kids I saw pop up about 10 years ago who seem to be more into it for the thrill than the enjoyment of nature and providing valuable reports back through the proper channels. Around 2007 chasing in Texas was when I noticed things were just going to get too dangerous out there. Not from the storms...from the vast number of people who've taken on the hobby.

I wonder if storm chasers need to be licensed and if you're out there without one you get a big fine.

Can someone please explain why the EF scale starts at 0 and not 1? Sorry if this is such an elementary question.

Dr. Fujita started it at F0 (now EF0) to signify those tornadoes are going to produce little to no damage. Granted the scale itself today is mostly a damage scale, but if you get a weak tornado touch down in a wheat field you are going to get some swirls in the grass/wheat and that's about it.

Most may, or may not, know that the original scale did go to F12 which is Mach 1. It was never intended that a tornado would get that strong. Good chart I found on Wiki to so the relation...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Fujita_scale_technical.svg/428px-Fujita_scale_technical.svg.png

Interesting to note the original F0 tornado had estimated winds from 40-72 mph, which is pretty much our typical "light breeze" here in Oklahoma. :) This was updated to 65-85 mph however.

Here are the tables to help compare...

caleEstimated wind speed*[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujita_scale#cite_note-SPC-3)Relative frequency[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]Average Damage Path Width (meters)[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]Potential damage[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujita_scale#cite_note-SPC-3)mph (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_per_hour)km/h (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Km/h)F040–7264–11638.9%10–50 (approx. 32-164 ft )Light damage.Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/F0_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F0_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F0_tornado_damage_example.jpg)F173–112117–180 35.6%30–150 (approx. 98-493 ft)Moderate damage.The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads; attached garages may be destroyed.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/F1_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F1_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F1_tornado_damage_example.jpg)F2113–157181–25 319.4%110–250 (approx. 360-820 ft)Significant damage.Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; highrise windows broken and blown in; light-object missiles generated.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/F2_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F2_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F2_tornado_damage_example.jpg)F3158–206254–33 24.9%200–500 (approx.655ft- 1/3 mile)Severe damage.Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/F3_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F3_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F3_tornado_damage_example.jpg)F4207–260333–41 81.1%400–900 (approx. 1/4-1/2 mile)Devastating damage.Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/F4_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F4_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F4_tornado_damage_example.jpg)F5261–318419–51 2<0.1%1100 ~(approx. 3/4 mile or more)Incredible damage.Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 m (109 yd); trees debarked; steel reinforced concrete structures badly damaged.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/F5_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-F5_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F5_tornado_damage_example.jpg)
ScaleWind speed
(Estimated)[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale#cite_note-EF_SPC-4)Example of damagemphkm/hm/sEF065–85104–13729–37http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/EF0_tornado_damage_example_%281%29.jpg/150px-EF0_tornado_damage_example_%281%29.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF0_tornado_damage_example_(1).jpg)EF186–1101 38–17738–49http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/EF1_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-EF1_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF1_tornado_damage_example.jpg)EF2111–135178– 21750–60http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/EF2_tornado_damage_example_%281%29.jpg/150px-EF2_tornado_damage_example_%281%29.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF2_tornado_damage_example_(1).jpg)EF3136–165 218–26661–73http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/EF3_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-EF3_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF3_tornado_damage_example.jpg)EF4166–200267– 32274–90http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/EF4_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-EF4_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF4_tornado_damage_example.jpg)EF5>200>322>90http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/EF5_tornado_damage_example.jpg/150px-EF5_tornado_damage_example.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EF5_tornado_damage_example.jpg)
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5WeakStrongViolent
Significant
Intense
Additional Details: Enhanced Fujita scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Fujita_Scale) -- If people are bored, I would really recommend reading the section on Degrees of Damage. It shows just how extensive and details they get now when it comes to rating tornadoes and why it isn't always smart to shout out EF ratings on the air.

I wonder if storm chasers need to be licensed and if you're out there without one you get a big fine.

We don't need LEOs pulling people over during a tornado when it is in progress. In my opinion it would be better to go after irresponsible chasers who knowingly violate road laws and post documented video proof online for all to see. Of course I'm not sure of the legalities of that, but that's for another thread I think. :)

This has happened a couple times before...can do without anymore of these. Chasers on the Spotter Network...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/jun13/02.png

wow

Can someone please explain why the EF scale starts at 0 and not 1? Sorry if this is such an elementary question.

To add to what venture said; it is fairly common in mathematics, physics, and especially computer science for the first item in a series to be indexed by zero

This has happened a couple times before...can do without anymore of these. Chasers on the Spotter Network...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/jun13/02.png



That seriously just made me shed tears. Man I can't believe this has happened... Still in shock. Tim was such a great guy - I cannot emphasize that enough.

:whiteflag

Storm Chase Media (http://www.facebook.com/StormChaseMedia?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline)

5 hours ago (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1)

With an extremely heavy heart, I would like everyone know that some of the best chasers and researchers in the field, Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young have passed away due to Friday night's tornadic event west of the Oklahoma City metro area.

I ask that you please keep the Samaras and Young families in your prayers as they go through this very difficult time...thanks.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/p480x480/972301_622448841099319_229326842_n.png (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1&relevant_count=1)

(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1&relevant_count=1)

Southern part filled in...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/jun13/02-1.png

I don't care much about requiring storm chasers to be licensed. But if it must be done might as well go all out to protect them by requiring them to use well armored vehicles that can anchor down in EF5 tornadoes, assuming that would be possible to do.

Better look from the Spotter Network page...

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/jun13/02-2.png

The way those pics spell out letters is interesting. One of the vehicles I saw yesterday was one of those big double long pickup trucks and I swear it looked like the whole thing had been rhino coated.

OK not entirely weather related but somewhat... cleaning up after my carport got flooded out during the storms and tossed a bunch of stuff away and put my trash bin on the curb... somebody came by and took all the useless crap I just loaded in it. Wasn't out there 30 minutes.

Somehow, the video on the link I keep trying to post has some weird script or something, as the video keeps changing.

Hey, Venture, any thoughts about the upcoming week? Hating to hear some severe talk already, but wondered about your thoughts

Slight Risk today roughly western 2 rows of counties...

...CNTRL THROUGH SRN HIGH PLAINS AREAS...


LOW-MID 50S DEWPOINTS WILL ADVECT THROUGH THE SRN AND CNTRL HIGH
PLAINS BENEATH STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ALONG SLY LLJ EAST OF LEE
TROUGH. THIS PROCESS IN CONJUNCTION WITH DIABATIC WARMING WILL
RESULT IN AN AXIS OF 1500-2000 J/KG MLCAPE FROM WRN TX NWD THROUGH
CNTRL NEB...WITH THE GREATER INSTABILITY LIKELY OVER WRN TX. STRONG
DIABATIC WARMING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DEEPLY MIXED BOUNDARY LAYERS
ALONG AND WEST OF THE TROUGH AXIS. STORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP BY
LATE AFTERNOON WITHIN ZONE OF CONVERGENCE AND WEAKENING CONVECTIVE
INHIBITION ALONG THIS BOUNDARY. BELT OF STRONGER WLYS WILL RESIDE
NORTH OF THE WARM SECTOR. HOWEVER...SELY WINDS VEERING TO WLY 30-35
KT AT 500 MB WILL RESULT IN 40+ KT EFFECTIVE SHEAR FROM NRN PART OF
WRN TX NWD THROUGH THE CNTRL PLAINS. HIGHER BASED SUPERCELLS WILL BE
THE INITIAL STORM MODE...BUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITY MAY EVENTUALLY
CONGEAL INTO LINE SEGMENTS AND CLUSTERS AND PERSIST INTO THE PLAINS
DURING THE EVENING SUPPORTED BY A STRENGTHENING LLJ. LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS THROUGH MID EVENING.

Slight Risk Tomorrow - Tuesday roughly along and North of I-44

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS THE SOUTH-CENTRAL PLAINS
TO LOWER MO VALLEY/OZARKS...


...SOUTH-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS TO LOWER MO VALLEY/OZARKS...
A PROGRESSIVE/LOW AMPLITUDE SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS TO THE UPPER
MIDWEST/UPPER MS RIVER VALLEY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...WITH
PROGRESSIVELY WEAKER MID-LEVEL WESTERLIES /SUB-30 KT/ SOUTH OF THE
LOWER MO VALLEY AND KS-OK BORDER VICINITY. A SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL
SETTLE SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS/MO VALLEY...ALTHOUGH IT IS
LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVELY AUGMENTED BY EARLY DAY CONVECTION/OUTFLOW
ACROSS THE MO VALLEY. MEANWHILE...SURFACE LOW DEVELOPMENT IS
EXPECTED ACROSS THE TX PANHANDLE/FAR NORTHWEST TX WITH A NEARBY
SURFACE TRIPLE POINT...WHILE LOW-LEVEL UPSLOPE TRAJECTORIES
OTHERWISE GRADUALLY INCREASE ACROSS THE CO/NORTHEAST NM FRONT RANGE
AND ADJACENT SOUTH-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS.


MULTIPLE SCENARIOS FOR SEVERE TSTM DEVELOPMENT ARE POSSIBLE
ESPECIALLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING. WITH A RELATIVELY STEEP
ELEVATED MIXED LAYER AND LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE HAVING RETURNED INTO THE
REGION /SOLID 60S F SURFACE DEWPOINTS/...THE AIRMASS SHOULD BECOME
MODERATELY UNSTABLE BY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN KS AND
WESTERN/NORTHERN OK AND ADJACENT TX PANHANDLE. ON THE SOUTHWEST
FRINGE OF EARLY DAY CLOUD COVER/PRECIPITATION...SEVERE TSTM
DEVELOPMENT MAY OCCUR ALONG THE WSW-ENE ORIENTED FRONTAL ZONE ACROSS
SOUTHERN/EASTERN KS. DEEP CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT...AT LEAST ON AN
ISOLATED BASIS...WILL BE POSSIBLE BY LATE AFTERNOON NEAR THE SURFACE
TRIPLE POINT ACROSS WEST/NORTHWEST OK OR NEARBY TX PANHANDLE. OTHER
STORMS ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE ACROSS THE CO/NORTHEAST NM FRONT RANGE
AND SPREAD EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS INTO TUESDAY
AFTERNOON.


GIVEN THE EXPECTED MOISTURE/INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION...VERTICAL
SHEAR WILL BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT /40+ KT/ FOR SUPERCELLS/SUSTAINED
MULTICELLS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL...WIND DAMAGE...AND PERHAPS A
TORNADO OR TWO. WITH AID OF A NOCTURNALLY STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL
JET...STORMS MAY PERSIST/CONSOLIDATE AS THEY DEVELOP GENERALLY
EASTWARD IN VICINITY THE FRONTAL ZONE TUESDAY NIGHT.

First off wanted to point out we are still missing people from the May 31st storms. As of right now the confirmed human fatality toll is at 16. Definitely highlights the significant dangers of being on the road during the storms and also the severe flooding threat that many didn't take seriously it would appear.

Extended forecast outlook: OK Extended Storm Outlook | Weather Spotlight (http://www.weatherspotlight.com/?p=394)

With May finally at a close we enter what is traditionally the third and final month of the peak severe season for Oklahoma. We do need to remember though that May’s season this year came at an extremely high cost. The human toll so far for the storms this past month stands at 42 with more still missing from the May 31st storm. We had three notable tornado days on May 19th, 20th, and 31st with the last day also have one of the more significant flooding events in Oklahoma County in many years. With that, we need to look ahead and be prepared for what is yet to come.
Monday June 3rdThe SPC has a slight risk out for the far Western counties in the main body of Oklahoma. The risk area extends back in the Texas Panhandle and Western KS. Storms should fire later this afternoon ahead of the dryline out in that area. There might be a few early afternoon storms in NW OK, but those shouldn’t be severe. Instability will be moderate to high out there today but the main threats will be large hail and wind. Storms in NW OK should form into a weak complex tha twill move SE through the overnight into Tuesday.
Tuesday June 4thTuesday we are looking at instability being much further east into the rest of Oklahoma and Kansas. Highest instability will be over the Northern half of OK, roughly from Highway 9 and North with CAPE values from 2500 to over 3000 j/kg. The SPC has the area along and North of I-44 in a slight risk right now, but this might come south just a hair. Tornado risk looks low over OK, higher up in KS, so main threats appear to be hail and wind. We are going to see scattered storms fire over much of Western and Northern OK in he afternoon. By late evening and through the overnight we’ll have a complex form up in NW OK and dive SE over Central OK.
Wednesday June 5thMuch the same as Tuesday, but instability will be down some due to ongoing precip and cloud cover. Highest instability will be over SE OK. CAPE will be around 1500 to 3000 j/kg in areas that get sun. 3km EHI values by evening will be from 4 to 6 over much of the I-40 corridor and SW OK. Storms will start over NW OK and then eventually extend down along I-44. Main threats some hail and wind, but overall not a huge risk.
Thursday June 6th & Friday June 7thMaybe some earlier leftovers on Thursday, but both days will be quiet.
Saturday June 8th through Sunday June 9thSevere risk looks pretty certain on Saturday, but this will be a more traditional Northwest flow/June setup. Instability will be high over much of the state with CAPE around 3000 j/kg. 3km EHI values will get very high from NW OK into Central OK by later afternoon ranging from 6 to 12. There could be some ongoing showers/storms over Western OK early Saturday, but main show will be towards evening. Severe storms will form in SW KS and NW OK. These will intensify and bring some very heavy rain and likely some damaging winds. There will be a tornado risk with storms that form before the MCS comes together and with any storms ahead of the main complex. The complex and rain may be slow to move and currently forecast to still be in SE OK by late Sunday.
Monday June 10th through Tuesday June 18thEvening forecast models dry it out and heat this ups with temps in the 80s Central & East, and 90s to low 100s West. Instability does build back in starting Thursday the 13th, but so far precip seems to be on the low side. We’ll need to keep an eye on things because models are still pretty volatile this far out and just 12 hours ago it had storms chances much higher during this period.

US National Weather Service Norman Oklahoma · 51,849 like this
2 hours ago · ..

NOAA Statement on deaths of storm researchers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young

We are terribly saddened by this news. Samaras was a respected tornado researcher and friend of NOAA who brought to the field a unique portfolio of expertise in engineering, science, writing and videography. His work was documented through an extensive list of formal publications and conference papers.

We extend our sympathies to the family of Tim and Paul, and to the family of Carl Young. We also extend our sympathies to all victims of the May 31st tornado and the other horrific tornadoes that have recently devastated central Oklahoma.

As far as we know, these are the first documented scientific storm intercept fatalities in a tornado.

Scientific storm intercept programs, though they occur with some known measure of risk, provide valuable research information that is difficult to acquire in other ways. Scientific storm chasing is performed as safely as possible, utilizing highly trained personnel and extensive technology including mobile Doppler radar.

We know storm chasing is also done by local government and media personnel who provide valuable warning information, and by amateur storm chasers who wish to see and photograph storms. We encourage all who chase to do so as safely and as responsibly as possible in order to avoid danger for themselves and all those threatened by tornadoes.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/mcd0946.gif

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0946
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0206 PM CDT MON JUN 03 2013


AREAS AFFECTED...THE OK PANHANDLE...NRN-ERN TX PANHANDLE...SW
KS...WRN OK


CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY


VALID 031906Z - 032030Z


PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE...80 PERCENT


SUMMARY...A SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE OK
PANHANDLE...THE NRN-ERN TX PANHANDLE...SW KS AND WRN OK OVER THE
NEXT FEW HOURS. WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY
THREATS. WW ISSUANCE WILL LIKELY BE NECESSARY ACROSS THE MCD AREA
OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.


DISCUSSION...LATEST SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A LOW IN SERN CO WHERE TEMPS
ARE IN THE UPPER 90S F. HIGH-BASED THUNDERSTORMS ARE INITIATING
ALONG THE THERMAL AXIS WHERE SFC-TEMP DEWPOINT SPREADS EXCEED 40
DEGREES F. AS THE CONVECTION MOVES EWD...THE DEVELOPING STORMS WILL
ENCOUNTER SFC DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S F WHICH WILL ENABLE
THE STORMS TO INTENSIFY WITH TIME THIS AFTERNOON. IN
ADDITION...OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT LOW TO MID-LEVEL FLOW
STRENGTHENS WITH EWD EXTENT. 0-6 KM SHEAR VALUES ARE ESTIMATED IN
THE 30 TO 35 KT RANGE ACROSS THE ERN TX AND OK PANHANDLES. THIS
ALONG WITH STEEPENING LAPSE RATES SHOULD ENABLE THE STORMS TO HAVE A
WIND DAMAGE THREAT AS DOWNDRAFTS ARE ENHANCED BY THE LARGE
TEMP-DEWPOINT SPREADS. LARGE HAIL WILL ALSO BE INCREASINGLY LIKELY
AS INSTABILITY INCREASES AND A POTENTIAL FOR SUPERCELLS DEVELOPS
LATE THIS AFTERNOON.


..BROYLES/WEISS.. 06/03/2013

Side note today...image from the Phased-Array Radar in Norman of the 31st's storms.

http://wdssii.nssl.noaa.gov/web/wdss2/products/radar/NWRT_20130531_ElReno.gif

HRRR for this afternoon: Loop (http://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/HRRR/jsloopLocalDiskDateDomain.cgi?dsKeys=hrrr_jet:&runTime=2013060317&plotName=cref_t5sfc&fcstInc=60&numFcsts=16&model=hrrr&ptitle=HRRR%20Model%20Fields%20-%20Experimental&maxFcstLen=15&fcstStrLen=-1&resizePlot=1&domain=t5)

Appears most of the severe stuff will stay west of Central OK, but some rain could be moving in by 9-10PM this evening.

Slight risk move slightly east a bit for today. It is now roughly running North-South right between US 281 and US 81.

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER A PORTION OF THE GREAT
PLAINS...


THE ONLY CHANGE THIS FORECAST UPDATE IS TO INCREASE SEVERE WIND GUST
PROBABILITIES OVER PARTS OVER SWRN KS...THE ERN TX PANHANDLE...AND
WRN OK.


...SWRN KS INTO ERN TX PANHANDLE/WRN OK...
SEVERAL CONVECTION-ALLOWING MODEL ENSEMBLES AND LATEST NAM/GFS SHOW
A CLUSTER OF STORMS DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON OVER SWRN KS/OK
PANHANDLE AND MOVING SEWD AS AN ORGANIZED MCS INTO THE ERN TX
PANHANDLE/WRN OK AS A SLY LLJ STRENGTHENS THIS EVENING. EARLY
AFTERNOON OBSERVATIONS SEEM TO SUPPORT THIS SCENARIO AS A RESERVOIR
OF 50S DEWPOINTS EXISTS ACROSS WRN OK-ERN TX PANHANDLE INTO SWRN KS
AHEAD AND TO THE E/SE OF A CLUSTER OF HIGH-BASED STORMS DEVELOPING
OVER SWRN KS. A STEEP LAPSE RATE ENVIRONMENT --OWING IN PART TO
STRONG SURFACE HEATING-- COMBINED WITH A STRONGLY VEERING WIND
PROFILE...WILL FAVOR STORM ORGANIZATION AS STORMS MATURE AND
CONTINUE TO MOVE EWD INTO A MORE MOIST AIRMASS /PW 1.25 INCH/.
SWATHS OF SEVERE WIND GUSTS WILL SEEMINGLY BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD
WITH THIS ACTIVITY BEFORE WEAKENING BY MID-LATE EVENING.


..SMITH.. 06/03/2013

Watch is out for W OK.

Initial Details...

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0273_radar.gif

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 273
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
330 PM CDT MON JUN 3 2013


THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A


* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST KANSAS
WESTERN OKLAHOMA INCLUDING THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PANHANDLE
CENTRAL AND EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE


* EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 330 PM UNTIL
1100 PM CDT.


* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH LIKELY
SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE


THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 85
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DODGE CITY KANSAS TO 25 MILES WEST OF ALTUS OKLAHOMA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...


REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.


&&


DISCUSSION...HIGH-BASED STORMS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM SERN CO INTO SWRN
KS AHEAD OF A WEAK VORTICITY MAX WITHIN A DEEPLY MIXED AIR MASS
CHARACTERIZED BY STEEP LAPSE RATES. THERMODYNAMIC PROFILES ARE
FAVORABLE FOR STRONG DOWNDRAFTS AND HAIL WITH INITIAL STORMS. NWP
MODEL GUIDANCE INCLUDING CONVECTION-ALLOWING ENSEMBLES SHOW STRONG
AGREEMENT THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS THAT STORMS WILL GRADUALLY
GENERATE A MESOSCALE COLD POOL AND GROW UPSCALE INTO SEWD MOVING
MCS...WITH POTENTIAL FOR MORE ORGANIZED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ALONG
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE COMPOSITE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY.


AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 29025.

Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

Low (10%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (F2-F5) tornadoes

Low (<2%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

Low (20%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

Mod (30%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

Low (10%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

High (70%)

Venture, this is out of left field, but is this the kind of complex that can grow large and evolve into one of those long-duration events like a derecho?

Venture, this is out of left field, but is this the kind of complex that can grow large and evolve into one of those long-duration events like a derecho?

There is that potential, doesn't look like we'll anything that high end though. That's pretty much what we are dealing with today and tomorrow though.

Complex is still pretty healthy, but it is in the 80s out there. 70s the further in state you get. Storms will weaken, but at least Canton and NW OK are getting some water.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/mcd0950.gif

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0950
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1008 PM CDT MON JUN 03 2013


AREAS AFFECTED...PORTIONS WRN OK...EXTREME SWRN KS...EXTREME SERN
CO...TX PANHANDLE...OK PANHANDLE.


CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 273...


VALID 040308Z - 040415Z


THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 273
CONTINUES.


SUMMARY...ANOTHER WW MAY BE REQUIRED WITHIN THE HOUR TO COVER
CONTINUING/PRIMARY SVR THREAT FROM MCS NOW TURNING SEWD ACROSS
PORTIONS NERN TX PANHANDLE AND NWRN OK. COMPLEX PRODUCED 66-KT GUST
AT GAG AT 227Z.


DISCUSSION...UNCERTAINTY REMAINS AS TO HOW LONG THIS ACTIVITY WILL
PERSIST...BUT ITS SUBSTANTIAL COLD POOL..AND CONTINUED POTENTIAL FOR
FORCED ASCENT OF INCREASINGLY MOIST INFLOW-LAYER AIR SUGGEST THREAT
WILL LAST BEYOND SCHEDULED 04Z WW EXPIRATION. 35-40 KT SLY
LLJ...EVIDENT IN VWP/PROFILER DATA OVER WRN OK INTO SWRN KS...WILL
AID WITH BOTH MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO CONVECTIVE REGION AND
STORM-RELATIVE INFLOW. STG MERIDIONAL GRADIENT IN BOTH CAPE AND
CINH STILL IS EVIDENT OVER W-CENTRAL OK...ALONG AND E OF LLJ
AXIS...AND SHOULD PERSIST ENOUGH SUCH THAT MCS EFFECTIVELY SHOULD
TURN MORE SSEWD WITH TIME TOWARD HIGHER-THETAE AIR MASS OF SWRN OK
AND EXTREME ERN TX PANHANDLE. PRESENCE OF NWLY TO NNWLY MEAN-WIND
AND DEEP-SHEAR VECTORS OVER THIS REGION ALSO SUPPORT THAT SCENARIO.


FARTHER W...TSTMS MOVING OUT OF SERN CO MAY OFFER MRGL SVR-WIND
THREAT AS THEY MOVE THROUGH POCKET OF DEEP/WELL-MIXED BOUNDARY-LAYER
AIR WITH MRGLLY FAVORABLE BUOYANCY...UNTIL ENCOUNTERING MCS OUTFLOW
OVER OK PANHANDLE AND EXTREME SWRN KS IN ANOTHER 1-2 HOURS.


SEPARATE AREA OF CONVECTION OVER ERN NM HAS PRODUCED A FEW STG-SVR
GUSTS IN DEEPLY MIXED AIR W OF DRYLINE. STATIC STABILITY SHOULD
INCREASE WITH EWD EXTENT AND WITH TIME ACROSS ADJOINING SECTIONS OF
PANHANDLE AND S PLAINS W OF DRYLINE...DECREASING POTENTIAL FOR SVR
GUSTS GENERATED ALOFT TO REACH SFC. HOWEVER...SOME ADDITIONAL
DAMAGING WIND IS POSSIBLE BEFORE THAT ACTIVITY DISSIPATES.


..EDWARDS.. 06/04/2013

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0274_radar.gif

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 274
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1045 PM CDT MON JUN 3 2013


THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A


* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WESTERN OKLAHOMA
EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE


* EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING FROM 1045 PM
UNTIL 400 AM CDT.


* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
A FEW SIGNIFICANT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH POSSIBLE
A FEW VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE


THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF
GAGE OKLAHOMA TO 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT SILL OKLAHOMA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...


REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.


&&


OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REPLACES
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 273. WATCH NUMBER 273 WILL NOT
BE IN EFFECT AFTER 1045 PM CDT.


DISCUSSION...THE RISK FOR SEVERE WIND GUSTS WILL PERSIST AT LEAST
ANOTHER COUPLE OF HOURS WITH THE WEAKENING CONVECTIVE SYSTEM
PROPAGATING SOUTHWARD ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA. STRONGEST STORMS
PROBABLY WILL REMAIN CONFINED TO THE WESTERN FLANK OF THE
SYSTEM...NEAR THE OKLAHOMA/TEXAS PANHANDLE BORDER AREA. AIDED BY
WARM ADVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH A SOUTH SOUTHWESTERLY 850 MB
JET...STRENGTHENING UP TO 40-50 KT...SOME RE-INTESIFICATION OF
CONVECTION ACROSS THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA
MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION OVERNIGHT...AS AN UPPER IMPULSE
GRADUALLY PROGRESSES EAST OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES.


AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 31030.

Look at the current radar...

Outflow boundary moving into the West metro now. Looks like winds around 30 mph with it, so nothing major. One severe warned cell still that is moving ESE right now. If it holds together it might impact South Metro.

The rest of the metro looks like we will get at least some rain and thunder.

One more wave behind this one, so far nothing severe.

http://www.weatherspotlight.com/screencap/jun13/03.png

Complex is still pretty healthy, but it is in the 80s out there. 70s the further in state you get. Storms will weaken, but at least Canton and NW OK are getting some water.I thought the hotter it was, the better and more intense storms??

At least it's hitting before commute time

Went to bed thinking...I wish we could get more rain

Storm Chase Media (http://www.facebook.com/StormChaseMedia?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline)

5 hours ago (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1)

With an extremely heavy heart, I would like everyone know that some of the best chasers and researchers in the field, Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young have passed away due to Friday night's tornadic event west of the Oklahoma City metro area.

I ask that you please keep the Samaras and Young families in your prayers as they go through this very difficult time...thanks.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/p480x480/972301_622448841099319_229326842_n.png (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1&relevant_count=1)

(http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=622448841099319&set=a.386244391386433.97912.385680078109531&type=1&relevant_count=1)

Interesting article about storm chasers in general.... Storm chasing: Science, thrill-seeking or tourism? - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/04/us/storm-chasers/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1)

OKC picked up another inch to inch and a half last night.

This is great!

OKC picked up another inch to inch and a half last night.

This is great!

What's the total for the past couple weeks?

What's the total for the past couple weeks?

mesonet 10-day has 8.86" for the north okc station.

What's the total for the past couple weeks?

Mesonet | Rainfall (http://www.mesonet.org/index.php/weather/category/rainfall)

Thanks

Slight Risk for today is west of a line from Miami to Ada to roughly Ardmore. Looking at a repeat of yesterday, but offset to the east a bit more. Initial severe supercells out west and NW of OK with a threat of large hail, wind, and a tornado or two. Things will combine into a MCS later this evening and sweep SE overnight. Some scatters convection out there now behind the main complex from last night, those won't get too annoying.

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0751 AM CDT TUE JUN 04 2013


VALID 041300Z - 051200Z


...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM THE HIGH PLAINS OF CO
EWD/SEWD ACROSS THE KS/OK/NWRN TX VICINITY...


...SYNOPSIS...
BETWEEN A MID-LEVEL RIDGE /EXTENDING NEWD FROM MEXICO ACROSS THE RIO
GRANDE VALLEY/ AND A SLOW-MOVING CLOSED LOW OVER THE NRN PLAINS...A
BROAD BELT OF ENHANCED WLY/ZONAL FLOW IS FORECAST TO SPREAD OUT OF
THE ROCKIES AND ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE U.S. THIS PERIOD.




AT THE SURFACE...A LOW CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER SWRN KS IS PROGGED TO
SHIFT/REDEVELOP SWD ACROSS THE OK/TX PANHANDLES INTO NWRN TX BY LATE
AFTERNOON. THE PRIMARY ZONE OF SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS PERIOD IS
PROGGED TO EXIST NEAR/N OF THIS FEATURE -- WITHIN SELY/UPSLOPE
LOW-LEVEL FLOW REGIME.


ELSEWHERE...A WEAK COOL FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A WEAKENING LOW OVER
THE NRN PLAINS WILL CONTINUE SHIFTING SLOWLY SEWD ACROSS THE MID MO
VALLEY/CENTRAL PLAINS...WHILE THE OCCLUDED/NRN PORTION OF THE
BOUNDARY CROSSES THE ERN DAKOTAS. THIS FRONTAL ZONE WILL FOCUS
CONVECTION -- AND LIKELY ISOLATED SEVERE POTENTIAL -- THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.


...CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS SEWD INTO WRN KS/WRN OK...
A LARGE MCS CONTINUES MOVING SEWD ACROSS OK THIS MORNING...WHILE
SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS PERSIST NWD ACROSS KS AND THE MID MO
VALLEY INTO THE NRN PLAINS/UPPER MS VALLEY.


WHILE THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE OK MCS IN PARTICULAR CAST SOME
UNCERTAINTY ON THE LOCATION AND DEGREE OF SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS
AFTERNOON...IT APPEARS THAT AS THE SYSTEM WEAKENS/DEPARTS THE
AREA...CONVECTIVELY-ALTERED AIRMASS TO THE COOL SIDE OF THE OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY SHOULD HEAT/DESTABILIZE RAPIDLY. WITH KAMA MORNING RAOB
REVEALING VERY STEEP LAPSE RATES ABOVE H7...DIURNAL HEATING OF THE
RELATIVELY MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER SHOULD YIELD MODERATE INSTABILITY
ACROSS WRN KS/WRN OK BY AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...CAPPING SHOULD ACT TO
HINDER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION THOUGH MUCH OF THE
AFTERNOON.


INITIAL STORM DEVELOPMENT WILL LIKELY OCCUR WITHIN THE LOW-LEVEL
ESELY UPSLOPE FLOW REGIME ACROSS THE CO FRONT RANGE -- N OF THE
SURFACE LOW INVOF NWRN TX. AMPLE INSTABILITY AND FAVORABLE SHEAR
WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS -- AND ASSOCIATED THREATS FOR LARGE
HAIL...LOCALLY DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO.


FORECAST FOR MORE WIDESPREAD SEVERE POTENTIAL FROM SERN CO INTO NWRN
OK STILL SEEMS REASONABLE...INITIALLY AS ISOLATED STORMS DEVELOP
WITH LOCAL BREACHING OF THE CAP NEAR AN AXIS OF CONVERGENCE
EXTENDING NWD FROM THE NWRN TX LOW ACROSS THE WRN OK/SWRN KS
VICINITY. WITH FAVORABLE SHEAR AND INSTABILITY EXPECTED...THESE
STORMS WOULD LIKELY BE SUPERCELLULAR...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
LARGE HAIL ALONG WITH LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS WELL AS A
TORNADO OR TWO.


BY EVENING...COVERAGE OF THE THREAT MAY INCREASE ACROSS THIS
REGION...AS STORMS EMERGING FROM THE CO FRONT RANGE POTENTIALLY GROW
UPSCALE IN RESPONSE TO DIURNALLY STRENGTHENING LOW-LEVEL SELYS.
ALONG WITH HAIL RISK AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO...THREAT FOR DAMAGING
WINDS MAY INCREASE PRESUMING UPSCALE GROWTH/MCS DEVELOPMENT. THREAT
FOR THIS MORE ORGANIZED/WIDESPREAD WIND POTENTIAL WOULD LIKELY
EXTEND FROM SERN CO ACROSS PARTS OF WRN KS AND THE OK/NRN TX
PANHANDLES INTO NWRN OK.

mesonet 10-day has 8.86" for the north okc station.

Do we know where the OKC mesonet stations are located specifically?

Do we know where the OKC mesonet stations are located specifically?

Mesonet | Mesonet Sites (http://www.mesonet.org/index.php/site/sites/station_site_id_map)

This is from KFOR… I haven’t seen it publicly posted by the National Weather Service yet.


The National Weather Service has just upgraded the May 31 El Reno, Union City tornado to an EF-5 with a width of 2.6 miles wide, making it the widest tornado ever documented.

EF-5 is the highest possible rating for tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

The upgrade was based on information from a Dopler On Wheels (DOW) that measured low level winds of 296 miles per hour.

This tornado is double the width of the May 20 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.

The F-4 Wilber-Hallam, Nebraska, tornado May 22, 2004 was the previous record holder for the widest tornado on record at 2.5 miles wide.

Gary England just posted the same on Facebook.

2.6 miles!? Wow.

2.6 miles!? Wow.
Emily Sutton is going on and on about it. She seems almost giddy about it. She is getting old real fast. She has been sucked into the Mike Morgasm, KFOR mantra of sensationalism. She needs to go back to Mizzou.

So, now Oklahoma holds title to the widest tornado ever recorded, as well as a tornado with the highest wind speeds ever recorded. Both within several miles.

Official PNS...

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1206 PM CDT TUE JUN 4 2013

...UPDATE ON MAY 31 EL RENO TORNADO...

METEOROLOGISTS WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND RESEARCHERS FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE INFORMATION
RELATED TO THE MAY 31 EL RENO TORNADO.

WITH THIS INVESTIGATION... THE TORNADO HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EF5
TORNADO BASED ON VELOCITY DATA FROM THE RESEARCH MOBILE RADAR DATA
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA RAXPOL RADAR. IN ADDITION... THE
WIDTH OF TORNADO WAS MEASURED BY THE MOBILE RADAR DATA TO BE 2.6
MILES AFTER THE TORNADO PASSED EAST OF US HIGHWAY 81 SOUTH OF EL
RENO. THIS WIDTH IS THE WIDTH OF THE TORNADO ITSELF AND DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS NEAR THE TORNADO AS
DETERMINED BY THE HIGH-RESOLUTION MOBILE RADAR DATA. THE 2.6 MILE
TORNADO PATH WIDTH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE WIDEST TORNADO ON RECORD
IN THE UNITED STATES.

.EL RENO TORNADO

RATING: EF5
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 16.2 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 2.6 MILES
FATALITIES: N/A
INJURIES: N/A

START DATE: MAY 31 2013
START TIME: 6:03 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 8.3 WSW OF EL RENO /CANADIAN COUNTY /OK
NEAR COURTNEY ROAD ABOUT 1 MILE NORTH
OF REUTER ROAD
START LAT/LON: 35.495 / -98.095

END DATE: MAY 31 2013
END TIME: 6:43 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 6.2 ESE OF EL RENO /CANADIAN COUNTY /OK
NEAR INTERSTATE 40 AND BANNER ROAD
END LAT/LON: 35.502 / -97.848

$$


SMITH/GARFIELD/SPEHEGER/AUSTIN

http://static.ow.ly/photos/original/2hfDG.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BL7osDICQAEbzSQ.jpg:large

Radar image above is being retweeted a gazillion times, so figured I would post it here too. :)

That is from the OU RaxPol mobile radar, not the traditional Doppler on Wheels that are based in Colorado now. The EF-5 rating is purely measured wind speed driven and not damage driven like they normally would be. This is one of the rare cases where they had a radar in place close enough to get near surface winds to make an accurate reading.

Looking at the radar you can definitely see what appears to be a 2nd tornado on the left side and from what I would guess was one of the satellites it had rotating around it. Might be off on that since there isn't a scale/map to position things with, but it does look like that is just a main hook that occluded that is being shown.