Multi-day outbreak of May 25-31

[CrazyC83]

I think the fact that TWC core-punched an EF-4 tornado on Monday with viral videos played a serious role in this. That created a sense that anyone could do it, and many amateurs decided to try along with them. That may have cost some their lives.

Storm chasing should be left to professionals that know what they are doing. I remember as far back as 2007 (digging up the post) saying that. They have been trained to do such as well and know the area and situation well.

[ravyrn]

I really do not see the need to get in the path of a tornado as strong as the one's today. Mike Bette's is lucky to be alive after getting hit by such a violent tornado.

Why were so many chasers injured today anyways? Did the tornado unexpectedly come down on them? Did it take an unexpected turn? I haven't been home today so just been reading thread on my phone when I find time. What exactly happened that so many chasers to put in harms way? Obviously they got careless, but was there something more to it other than their lack of caution?

[CrazyC83]

viewtopic.php?p=1538276#p1538276

My post from May 5, 2007 (the day after Greensburg) and a lot of responses. One response I made:

Definitely on days like this. Split-second decisions are needed along with high-quality radar and scanners. These aren't small funnels from the sky. These are potentially violent, destructive and deadly tornadoes.

[summersquall]

Update from Accuweather re: Busch Stadium situation. Although the original report was confirmed...
AccuWeather.com ‏@breakingweather
After seeking further confirmation of the damage at Busch Stadium, we are reporting all fans are safe.

[EF-5bigj]

Reed was even just trying to stay out of the way from what I saw. But I don't know why so many chasers go injured. 300 kts is just amazing though

[Ntxw]

I really do not see the need to get in the path of a tornado as strong as the one's today. Mike Bette's is lucky to be alive after getting hit by such a violent tornado.

Why were so many chasers injured today anyways? Did the tornado unexpectedly come down on them? Did it take an unexpected turn? I haven't been home today so just been reading thread on my phone when I find time. What exactly happened that so many chasers to put in harms way? Obviously they got careless, but was there something more to it other than their lack of caution?

I think it was a combination of the many things other posters have mentioned. You have large, dangerous tornadoes that go through cycles and move around erratically as they reform. At the same time they are trying to chase near a major metropolitan area around rush hour which require navigating (even in the outer suburbs where people are commuting). Crazy made a good point about the incident earlier in the week which may have given false security to "be in a tornado."

[CrazyC83]

Now the flash flooding from these storms is creating a new problem for all those stuck on the highways...

[AdamFirst]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... iZNsproDzs

(high volume warning at points)
Frightening video from the Union City tornado (the one that tossed Mike Bettis over and ripped the hood off Reed Timmer's Dominator)

When you said that there were chasers caught in the middle, you weren't lying

[Cyclenall]

CNN is going live through the night on this. CNN also just showed that video by Brandon Sullivan that was absolutely insane and reckless (if you haven't seen it yet, brace yourself! ). Everyone is calling that video "the dumbest chasing video ever". Its amazing they didn't die from it. CNN rewarded their bad behavior.

170,000 without power now, huge flood event now for OKC. It keeps back-building non-stop to the west. Can't imagine the amount of damage that is occurring.

EDIT: I never believe any tweets during events like this, almost all of them were BS.

[EF-5bigj]

All this rain will make seeing the amount of damage even harder. That massive wedge earlier had to have caused significant damage.

[ATXFrog]

Are we done for the night regarding Tornados?

[brunota2003]

http://twitter.com/justinhobson85/statu ... 16/photo/1

Here is a photo I saw on twitter. This is why so many chasers were injured today. Tornadoes do not constantly move in a straight line. When you have a mile wide tornado shift its due east track to the NE, there is no getting out if you are close to it. Combine that with it being wrapped in rain and you aren't going to see it until its knocking on your windshield.

Be smart, be aware. Know your true limitations, and imagine every scenario possible before committing! Storm Smart.

[wx247]

http://twitter.com/justinhobson85/status/340642168056201216/photo/1

Here is a photo I saw on twitter. This is why so many chasers were injured today. Tornadoes do not constantly move in a straight line. When you have a mile wide tornado shift its due east track to the NE, there is no getting out if you are close to it. Combine that with it being wrapped in rain and you aren't going to see it until its knocking on your windshield.

Be smart, be aware. Know your true limitations, and imagine every scenario possible before committing! Storm Smart.

Amen brunota!!! I wish there was a like button for this post.

[thetruesms]

Trying to piece together things from friends back in C.OK, and this appears to have been one of those terrible situations that everyone feared where everything goes wrong. Very fast moving tornado, lots of yahoos who don't know what they're doing and locals out to gawk clogging up the roads. Also, an OKC tv weather guy may have implied that people were unsafe in their homes and should try to evacuate (WTF?). This really became an issue when a previously safe situation became unsafe, but so many who don't know what they were doing didn't recognize it yet, and made escape difficult/impossible. People who were too close for their own good got smacked. Some of the most cautious chasers I know - guys who absolutely refuse to get within a couple miles of a storm they're chasing - only narrowly escaped disaster.

[Texas Snowman]

Fox News is reporting at least five fatalities from tonight's tornadoes in and around OKC.

[Texas Snowman]

As mentioned, flooding is now the huge issue in OKC:

Tweet at 10:45 p.m. on 5/31/13 -- "@breakingstorm: Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City received 4.80" in past 3 hours; now wettest May on record with 13.68" - @TWCBreaking"

[wx247]

Cell NE of Tulsa near Big Cabin looks suspicious to me...

[EF-5bigj]

I think that violent one earlier was a chasers worse nightmare. It seemed like even Reed was not going to get near that beast and Mike Bettes is lucky to be alive.

[AdamFirst]

Also, an OKC tv weather guy may have implied that people were unsafe in their homes and should try to evacuate (WTF?).

I've been watching the KFOR stream for most of the day, and during the early stages of the Union City tornado the guy on KFOR said if you can't find a storm shelter or can't shelter in place in the OKC metro, he mentioned repeatedly to evacuate to the south

Apparently many people heard him

[brunota2003]

Also, an OKC tv weather guy may have implied that people were unsafe in their homes and should try to evacuate (WTF?).

I've been watching the KFOR stream for most of the day, and during the early stages of the Union City tornado the guy on KFOR said if you can't find a storm shelter or can't shelter in place in the OKC metro, he mentioned repeatedly to evacuate to the south

Apparently many people heard him

I think he meant well, and people took what he said out of context. Instead of "can't find a shelter or can't shelter in place", all they heard was "evacuate the city!"