February 5-6: Super Tuesday Outbreak... 57 dead

[RL3AO]

So we may have just witnessed the most insane tornado outbreak in three years?

This one had more deaths and violent tornadoes. May 2007 had an EF5 and an entire town destroyed (123 tornadoes total also). Not sure which one I would put first.

[Squarethecircle]

It's a tough decision. But remember, there were no EF-4s in that outbreak, and less EF-3s, as well as only 4 more EF-2s.

[simplykristi]

Updates from two major tornadoes:

-The big Middle Tennessee tornado from Sumner County into Kentucky was an EF3 (which I agree with). It continued into Kentucky and was 51 miles long. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds ... &node=KOHX

-The Arkansas monster appears to have indeed been one tornado, although the aerial survey will confirm such. It has been upgraded to at least EF4. (Since they are still surveying, I wouldn't be surprised to see it raised again to EF5) http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds ... &node=KLZK

Just my thinking... Atkins should be rated EF5... Mountain View should be rated EF4.

Kristi

[Squarethecircle]

I'd give Atkins a fifty fifty split for EF-5, and I'd give Mountain view a 75-25 split in favor of EF-4.

[RL3AO]

I'd say EF5. But I'm not an expert.

[JonathanBelles]

I'm leaning toward an EF5 at a 60-40 split favoring EF5.

[Squarethecircle]

Talking about what I THINK, then I'd agree.

[Cyclenall]

I think an EF5 as well.

[HarlequinBoy]

I'm leaning with an EF5 as well. The NWS Little Rock may be hesitant though because I don't think there has ever been an F5/EF5 confirmed in Arkansas. There may have been 1 in the 20s, but despite numerous devastating tornadoes in the past there, none has been rated that high.

I think I'd rate this outbreak worse than May 2007, but either way both this and Greensburg were horrendous.

[CrazyC83]

So we may have just witnessed the most insane tornado outbreak in three years?

This one had more deaths and violent tornadoes. May 2007 had an EF5 and an entire town destroyed (123 tornadoes total also). Not sure which one I would put first.

Hard to say. The majority of those tornadoes did little or no damage (i.e. nothing more than trees or farm equipment), but that was because there was nothing around for them to hit. The number of strong or violent tornadoes would have certainly been higher if it were a more densely populated area (there could have been more than one EF5 as well - the mega-tornadoes following Greensburg, all officially EF3, were capable of catastrophic damage as well but didn't hit much). This week's outbreak will likely go down with about 80 tornadoes, but it hit a much more populated area.

If you transposed May 4-6, 2007 over the same area affected this week, the damage would have been just as bad, if not worse.

[CrazyC83]

So we may have just witnessed the most insane tornado outbreak in three years?

This one had more deaths and violent tornadoes. May 2007 had an EF5 and an entire town destroyed (123 tornadoes total also). Not sure which one I would put first.

Three years? 2005 was really quiet tornado-wise for most of the year...apart from the tropics, there was only one real outbreak until November. You probably are thinking 2004, which had plenty of significant outbreaks (although few deaths).

[brunota2003]

Yeah...those trees in the background have been about 50% to 75% debarked, with not even a stub of a branch left. It is possible those trees were dead, but I'd think they would of blown over if they were. The foundation, from what little bit I see, is swept clean of the building that was once there. Judging by everything in the picture, it certainly, to this novice, looks like either a VERY high end EF4 or our second EF5 since the new scale came into effect...

[CrazyC83]

I'd need to see more, but from my view, that is high-end EF4. To get to EF5 means wiping the scene and foundation clean...

[Category 5]

Some of that damage appears boarderline EF4-EF5.

anyway here's one of the Arkansas tornadoes.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

By the way that area is flaten and cleaned, I would say EF5 easy.

[wbug1]

I'd say EF5. But I'm not an expert.

That tree is significantly debarked.

For comparison, the 1999 OKC/Moore tornado:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/1999 ... 990117.jpg - F5 damage
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/1999 ... 990206.jpg - debarking
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/1999 ... 990307.jpg - F5 damage

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/1999 ... 990316.jpg <-- F5 DAMAGE

[Cyclenall]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/1999 ... 990316.jpg <-- F5 DAMAGE

What is that?

[wbug1]

It's a railroad car.

[Squarethecircle]

It's kinda scary to realize, but I have no idea what that thing is. It certainly doesn't look like a railroad car.

So we may have just witnessed the most insane tornado outbreak in three years?

This one had more deaths and violent tornadoes. May 2007 had an EF5 and an entire town destroyed (123 tornadoes total also). Not sure which one I would put first.

Three years? 2005 was really quiet tornado-wise for most of the year...apart from the tropics, there was only one real outbreak until November. You probably are thinking 2004, which had plenty of significant outbreaks (although few deaths).

Three years would put us near the beginning of 2005, which was just around the corner from the outbreaks of 2004.

[wbug1]

:uarrow: It's kinda scary to realize, but I have no idea what that thing is. It certainly doesn't look like a railroad car.

I didn't know what it is when I looked at it either, but the picture caption says it's a railroad car. If you look carefully, you can see the coupler. It's hard to make out because the colours make it look like the rest of it.