A Memorable Storm System

Some in our region may be scratching their heads, wondering what the big deal is about this latest installment of Spring's bag of tricks.

Well, let's look at it from a larger perspective.

First, a warm frontal boundary set up Friday night/Saturday morning, producing an efficient amount of rainfall along either side of that boundary along with some severe weather. Some in our region were negatively impacted with some storm damage reports; however, heavy rain resulted in flash flooding and areal flooding (creeks, rivers overflowing their banks) as the warm front seemed to have difficulty moving northward. It was as if the front stalled for a time as waves of storms kept pounding the same areas over and over again.

Here is a look at some rainfall reports regionally and locally...from Friday night/Saturday morning...

Huntingburg, IN (Dubois County)......8.11"
Evansville, IN.......5.62"
LaGrange, KY.......4.85"
Westport, KY.......4.34"
Indianapolis, IN....2.51"
Cincinnati, OH....2.41"

Around Louisville....

Louisville Int'l (official)....1.20"

New Albany, IN.....5.05"
Transylvania Beach Pumping Station..4.58"
Galena, IN......3.85"
Park Lake, KY....3.54"
Jeffersonville, IN...3.33"
Springhurst, KY....3.28"

In addition to the heavy rainfall, there was a confirmed EF-1 tornado in Goshen, KY in Oldham County and hail up to the size of half-dollar coins in other locations.

On the other side of the cold front now approaching us from the west is a classic Spring 'winter storm'. Parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and now Kansas and Nebraska are dealing with blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall.

Check out some of these snowfall amounts....thru Saturday morning

Colorado City, CO......24.0"
Golden, CO......11.1"
Boulder, CO...8.0"
Keyes, OK...8.0"
Santa Fe, NM....7.0"
Amarillo, TX...3.0"

In Amarillo, just a week earlier, temperatures were flirting with 90 degrees again. Yes, shortly after the middle of the month, they already hit 90.

Snowfall is expected to continue into parts of the Plains. High winds coupled with the heavy snowfall may lead to power outages for some residents along with reduced visibilities and traffic headaches.

Locally, along this cold front, a shield of rain along with isolated severe storms are forecast. This may aggravate already saturated grounds for those that have already received several inches.

MS

Lots of Rain and Some Severe Storms

Analogs show modest chances for severe storms in our region through this evening. Should be right along warm front and just south.

However, SPC is having a hard time pinpointing exactly where who is going to get what and when.

Perhaps that explains why the SPC has broadbrushed a large swath of the Plains and OV with an enhanced risk for severe storms. Uncertainty.

Nevertheless, there should be enough rainfall this weekend that should prompt many flash flood and areal flood products to be issued.

I would not be surprised if some places in Kentucky and southern Indiana receive more than 4" this weekend.

I will be posting any extraordinary wind gusts and storm reports of severe criteria hail in a separate post if needed. But, I'll be focusing on the heavy rain reports for the most part.

MS

A/C Time

The filter has been changed. Forecast for above 80 degrees today. Yep, it's that time. The A/C is coming on for the first time this season...well, maybe later today when I'm cooking.

Unfortunately, I cannot open the windows since the family struggles with allergy issues. Plus, I cut the front and back yard yesterday.

Remember, for yourself or your family members, after being outside during the pollen season for a significant period of time, the clothes we wear, yes, our hair and skin all collect pollen. If we do not take the time to change out of our clothes or take a brief shower, then we can transfer that pollen into the home, getting it on our pillows, furniture, and so forth.

Still, I love Spring. Soon, I'll be out there clearing out the garden, prepping the soil for planting my peppers and tomatoes along with some zucchini and yellow squash. Hey, my rosemary plant survived the winter for the first time in 3 years, or since I first started growing it in my garden. I still have to check on my thyme. I grow that one in a pot, but it came back last year, so, maybe it will come back again.

One other thing. My rain barrel will be operational by the end of the weekend. Hopefully, the showers we get will fill the 66 gallon reservoir, ready for dispensing come gardening season (right around the first Saturday of May).

MS

Remembering the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak of 1965

Also, I provided an excerpt from Ohio History Central...
Click here.

The infamous twin twisters from the photograph above occurred in Dunlap, IN. I found a reference from the South Bend Tribune that includes a riveting, yet sad report of what transpired that day.

One of the famous quotes came from a weather observer from the U.S. Weather Bureau in South Bend when he said, "Reports of tornadoes and funnel clouds have become so numerous that it is impossible to keep track of them."

Read more from this reference here.

From the NCDC Storm Publication comes this excerpt from Ohio, in Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties....

This tornado was one of the most destructive of those occurring on Palm Sunday because it passed through a more populous section. It first touched down a short distance west of Pittsfield where it completely obliterated this crossroads community. Four people were killed in the ruins. It then proceeded east-northeastward just north of La Grange over the southern edge of Grafton and through Columbia Station and Strongsville. In each of these places there were additional fatalities bringing the total to 18. Property damage to homes, barns, and other structures ran into the millions. For example, 18 homes were leveled in Strongsville and 50 more were badly damaged along with two churches and a school building.

The arrival of the tornado occurred here shortly after 11pm, yes, a nightfall event. In fact, all 57 (according to NCDC Storm Publication) deaths in Ohio occurred after 9pm as these tornadoes pummeled the landscape.

The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965 will always be remembered, not just in Ohio, but the other 5 Midwest states as well, including Indiana who suffered the most loss of life that day than the other affected states.

MS

Dangerous Weather Today

Large hail and a few tornadoes are possible, greatest threat in central Kentucky, ground zero could be south central Kentucky.

CIPS analogs and SPC support the severe weather threat. Again, the potential is there. As always, a bust factor is involved.

Personally, in my opinion, this event has been well advertised. I do expect severe weather reports to be numerous today, with tornado and hail reports.

However, if the storms become severe to our south in Tennessee, this may limit overall severe coverage in Kentucky.

But don't rely on this. Always prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

This is a storm spotter day and weather radios should be on standby. Stay safe.

I am out of town but will be following the action throughout the day.

MS