Just My Thoughts: Tornado Damage

Some of the scenes from Joplin MO and Minneapolis MN are incredible. Although I haven't heard or read anything about storm surveys from these areas, just looking at the damage path and destruction caused, I would rate the tornado near Minneapolis as a strong EF-2 to low end EF-3. The tornado in Joplin looks like a strong EF-4 but could be one of those 'rare' EF-5's.

We have already seen at least 3 EF-5 tornadoes this year and at least 11 EF-4's. Loss of life has now exceeded 450 for the year. The total death toll for the year may approach 500 by the time the final tally is made in Joplin.

Nobody can fault the NWS offices or Storm Prediction Center in Norman OK for any of these fatalities. For example, a Tornado Watch was in effect for the Joplin area and the warning that was issued had a lead time of at least 20 minutes. Plenty of time for residents to take cover. Why so many deaths then?

Well, from what I've seen, more tornadoes are hitting metropolitan areas than the midwest cornfields. In other words, where there's more people, expect more casualties. And even if everyone follows the proscribed safety precautions for tornado safety, the sheer force of these tornadoes this year are negating all of those precautions.

Remember, flying debris from tornadoes is the leading cause of death in a tornadic storm. However, this year could be the year that a tornadoe's size and intensity will be a leading contributing factor.

Although this May has been relatively quiet as far as severe weather, the weather patterns are re-awakening as a series of strong to severe storms will be pummeling a large chunk of real estate for the week ahead.

More on our weather for the week ahead coming soon.
MS