Parkersburg, Iowa tornado rated EF5!

[KWT]

Actually thats a good point because those structures probably weren't houses as there is no hints of road that should have been there if they were houses.

Still very impressive however its got to be said.

[HawkeyeGold]

Hi hawkeyegold. Welcome to s2k. Hopefully you didn't sustain any damage and all your family and friends are ok.

We're about an hour south of Parkersburg so we were well out of the way, but we had a good scare that night - what turned out to be standard low (reletively) intensity rotation got us a tornado warning. Of course, combine that with knowing what had happened in Parkersburg and we were more than standard concerned but all turned out fine here.

[HarlequinBoy]

That is astounding, another EF5 tornado this year after nothing for a long time before 2007. I knew this year would achieve that rating again (there might have been more Friday night that were not seen). I agree with this rating for Parkersburg.

I highly doubt the NWS would miss an EF5. Friday night was not amazing impressive. 1 EF4 and 1 EF3.

So far 32 tornadoes confirmed for the 4 days, May 22-26.

[CrazyC83]

That is astounding, another EF5 tornado this year after nothing for a long time before 2007. I knew this year would achieve that rating again (there might have been more Friday night that were not seen). I agree with this rating for Parkersburg.

I highly doubt the NWS would miss an EF5. Friday night was not amazing impressive. 1 EF4 and 1 EF3.

So far 32 tornadoes confirmed for the 4 days, May 22-26.

Many offices have not reported yet either due to workload and constant severe weather. Dodge City just got into the field yesterday, and Norman looks to be just going in today.

[HarlequinBoy]

That is astounding, another EF5 tornado this year after nothing for a long time before 2007. I knew this year would achieve that rating again (there might have been more Friday night that were not seen). I agree with this rating for Parkersburg.

I highly doubt the NWS would miss an EF5. Friday night was not amazing impressive. 1 EF4 and 1 EF3.

So far 32 tornadoes confirmed for the 4 days, May 22-26.

Many offices have not reported yet either due to workload and constant severe weather. Dodge City just got into the field yesterday, and Norman looks to be just going in today.

I don't think Norman has that much to survey. A few EF0/EF1s with that one supercell that was on camera, and maybe one unconfirmed up around Harper. I don't expect the period to top 60.

[SamSagnella]

NOUS44 KOUN 282003 AAA
PNSOUN
OKZ004>048-050>052-291200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
300 PM CDT WED MAY 28 2008

..TORNADO DAMAGE SURVEY INFORMATION FROM SATURDAY MAY 24

METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUE TO ANALYZE INFORMATION FROM THE SATURDAY MAY
24TH TORNADOES. GROUND SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED OVER THE PAST COUPLE
OF DAYS...ALONG WITH AN ATTEMPT TO COUNT AND IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL
TORNADOES BASED ON VIDEO AND IMAGES...AS WELL AS SPOTTER...CHASER
AND MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

THE FINAL NUMBER OF TORNADOES IS STILL NOT KNOWN...BUT WE ESTIMATE
THAT APPROXIMATELY TEN TORNADOES OCCURRED. WE HAVE GROUND DAMAGE
SURVEY INFORMATION ON FIVE OF THOSE TORNADOES.

THIS INFORMATION IS STILL PRELIMINARY...AND WILL LIKELY CHANGE
BEFORE THE OFFICIAL REPORT IS PUBLISHED IN STORM DATA LATER THIS
YEAR.

TORNADO NUMBER 1
PATH: 1 NW LACEY TO 1 NE LACEY
WIDTH: 150 YARDS
LENGTH: 2.1 MILES
INTENSITY: EF1

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD
JUST WEST OF THE SEABOARD FOODS PIG FARM NORTH OF LACEY. THE TORNADO
HIT BUILDINGS AT THE FARM, HOWEVER POWER POLES JUST WEST OF THE
BARNS WERE NOT DAMAGED. DAMAGE AT THIS LOCATION WAS RATED AS EF1 ON
THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED JUST SOUTH OF EAST
AND IMPACTED SOME TREES AND A TRAILER ABOUT ONE HALF MILE NORTH OF
LACEY.

TORNADO NUMBER 2
PATH: 8 WNW HENNESSEY TO 6 NW HENESSEY
WIDTH: 220 YARDS
LENGTH: 2.5 MILES
INTENSITY: EF2 (LOWER END)

THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 132...DOING MINOR DAMAGE TO GRAIN SILOS.
THE TORNADO THEN MOVED NORTHEAST TOWARDS AN ABANDONED FARM. AT THIS
LOCATION THE ROOF OF A HOUSE WAS REMOVED AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN. A
LARGE TREE WAS UPROOTED AND MOST OF THE TREES HAD SNAPPED TRUNKS.
AFTER HITTING THE FARM...THE TORNADO CROSSED CR 600 AND SNAPPED
POWER POLES. THE TORNADO CONTINUED MOVING NORTHEAST...DAMAGING TREES
LIMBS AND FLATTENING WHEAT NEAR CR 2810.

TORNADO NUMBER 3
PATH: 6 NW HENNESSEY TO 6 NNW HENNESSEY
WIDTH: UNKNOWN
LENGTH: 1.9 MILES
INTENSITY: EF0

THE ONLY KNOWN DAMAGE FROM THIS TORNADO WAS TO TREES. THE PATH IS
ESTIMATED FROM LOCAL MEDIA VIDEO.

TORNADO NUMBER 4
PATH: 9 WNW MARSHALL TO 4 WNW MARSHALL
WIDTH: 20-80 YARDS
LENGTH: 4.7 MILES
INTENSITY: EF0

THIS TORNADO CAUSED MINOR TREE DAMAGE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF ITS
PATH. LARGE METAL TRANSMISSION TOWERS WERE BLOWN OVER...WITH SOFT
SOIL IN WHICH THE TOWERS WERE ANCHORED LIKELY A FACTOR. TOWARD THE
END OF THE PATH...A GREEN HOUSE SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE TO ITS VINYL
COVERING.

TORNADO NUMBER 5
PATH: 7 SW COVINGTON TO 10 SE COVINGTON
WIDTH: 0.9 MILES
LENGTH: 11.2 MILES
INTENSITY: EF2 (UPPER END)

ACCORDING TO SPOTTER/CHASER REPORTS AND DAMAGE SURVEY
INFORMATION...THIS WAS A LARGE AND...AT TIMES...MULTIPLE VORTEX
TORNADO...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FIRST PART OF THE PATH. AT TWO POINTS
ALONG THE PATH...THERE WERE SEVERAL SNAPPED/DOWNED POWER POLES...
WITH A DAMAGE PATH WIDTH OF AROUND ONE HALF MILE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE
OCCURRED STARTING AT HIGHWAY 74 GOING EAST. AT HIGHWAY 74 AND BISON
ROAD...AN ANCHORED SINGLE WIDE MOBILE HOME USED AS AN OFFICE WAS
THROWN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER THERE WAS ONLY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO
SURROUNDING BUILDINGS AND POWER LINES. THE TORNADO TRACKED EAST
ALONG BISON ROAD DESTROYING OUTBUILDINGS AND A ROOF AT ONE PROPERTY.
A HORSE TRAILER WAS THROWN EAST ABOUT 300 YARDS. SIGNIFICANT TREE
DAMAGE AND SNAPPED POWER POLES WERE OBSERVED ALONG BISON ROAD.
TOWARD THE END OF THE PATH...A 100 YEAR OLD CHURCH - SITTING ON A
ROCK/CINDER BLOCK FOUNDATION - WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THIRTY HEAD
OF CATTLE WERE ALSO KILLED.

FOR REFERENCE...HERE IS THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE AND THE ASSOCIATED
WIND SPEED ESTIMATES:
EF0 -- 65 TO 85 MPH
EF1 -- 86 TO 110 MPH
EF2 -- 111 TO 135 MPH
EF3 -- 136 TO 165 MPH
EF4 -- 166 TO 200 MPH
EF5 -- GREATER THAN 200 MPH

THANKS TO KIEL ORTEGA...JOE YOUNG AND NICK BIERMANN FOR THE SURVEY
INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS.

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KOUN/0805282003.nous44.html

[pojo]

This situation is similar to the Oakfield, WI 1996 F5 tornado.... here too 95% of the community decimated. But this tornado was originally determined to be F3 possibly F4, the Milwaukee/Sullivan NWS later upgraded to F5.

[Cyclenall]

That is astounding, another EF5 tornado this year after nothing for a long time before 2007. I knew this year would achieve that rating again (there might have been more Friday night that were not seen). I agree with this rating for Parkersburg.

I highly doubt the NWS would miss an EF5. Friday night was not amazing impressive. 1 EF4 and 1 EF3.

So far 32 tornadoes confirmed for the 4 days, May 22-26.

I meant in an non-populated area, like a farm field where an EF5 might have briefly occurred before weakening. They can't find out since there would be no building damage.

[HarlequinBoy]

That is astounding, another EF5 tornado this year after nothing for a long time before 2007. I knew this year would achieve that rating again (there might have been more Friday night that were not seen). I agree with this rating for Parkersburg.

I highly doubt the NWS would miss an EF5. Friday night was not amazing impressive. 1 EF4 and 1 EF3.

So far 32 tornadoes confirmed for the 4 days, May 22-26.

I meant in an non-populated area, like a farm field where an EF5 might have briefly occurred before weakening. They can't find out since there would be no building damage.

Well you can pretty much say that for most outbreak in the US, and the Canadian prairies for that matter. Large sections of the Plains and the south aren't that populated.

[Bunkertor]

They want to tell, the one that whiped out the pigs was an EF1 - means below F1 ?

[Bunkertor]

Insane

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzk_vnGftYE

What are those round plants moving over the street. Thats like Audie Murphy

[brunota2003]

Insane

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzk_vnGftYE

What are those round plants moving over the street. Thats like Audie Murphy

Tumble weeds, I believe.

[Bunkertor]

Insane

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzk_vnGftYE

What are those round plants moving over the street. Thats like Audie Murphy

Tumble weeds, I believe.

That´s crazy. I think most germans think that plants are rolled over the screen extra for western-movies...they should watch more you***be

[senorpepr]

They want to tell, the one that whiped out the pigs was an EF1 - means below F1 ?

EF1 is part of the new Enhanced Fujita Scale. F1 through F5 (from the old Fujita scale) are outdated. Essentially, however, EF1 is similar to F1.

[Bunkertor]

But the thing that whiped out the pigs lookes like more than F1...

[SamSagnella]

But the thing that whiped out the pigs lookes like more than F1...

Looks can be deceiving, I suppose. Those were pig barns, after all; typically not considered a sturdy shelter.

[Bunkertor]

True, it´s thin metal rivted. But OK, doesn´t need much to blow it away...maybe it looks more violent than it was.

[Aslkahuna]

Actually, although the barns were destroyed, the majority of the pigs survived-mostly uninjured.

Steve

[dizzyfish]

Sorry if this has already been posted. Didn't have time to read back through the posts.

Video from a bank in Parkersburg as the tornado rips through.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=1.1.1

Unbelieveable!!!

[Cyclenall]

Sorry if this has already been posted. Didn't have time to read back through the posts.

Video from a bank in Parkersburg as the tornado rips through.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=1.1.1

Unbelieveable!!!

Bererk action from this finger of God. How rapid the windows darken to pitch black shows how quick it is when your caught off gaurd. That bright flash was an explosion, where did that come from? I can't imagine standing there if someone were to be there.