Category: Posts EN

Severe Storms Rip Across the Plains Monday to Early Tuesday!

Written by Team Morecast

 

An unusually strong upper level low spun out of the Southern Rockies on Monday. It encountered plenty of warm Gulf moisture over the Southern Plains, setting the stage for a classic spring severe storm outbreak.

 

 

The ingredients were all there for dangerous severe cells. Strong upper level winds rolled over a very warm, moist near-surface environment. There was also plenty of cyclonic spin to help generate supercells capable of producing tornadoes and giant hail. Conditions were so favorable, in fact, that the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a rare “high-risk” severe outlook for the day, the first time in two years that such a forecast has been warranted.

 

 

A few isolated severe cells flared during the morning hours, but the outbreak really accelerated in the mid-afternoon. Numerous reports of hail larger than two inches (five cm) were reported, including a stone that was 5.5 inches wide (11 cm) at Wellington, TX! Wind gusts with the stronger squalls reached 70-90 mph (110-140 kph). Many of the cells also produced tornadoes well into the overnight hours, one of the most dangerous weather situations. A tornado moved very close to Tulsa International Airport just past 6:30 am Tuesday morning, causing some damage to the neighboring zoo. Officials quickly reassured concerned citizens that no animals were harmed!

 

 

Persistent heavy rains also created flooding problems across portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri that are still ongoing as of Tuesday evening. Much of the region has seen 4-8 inch (100-200 mm) rains since Monday morning. The latest round of heavy rains have contributed to totals 5-6 times higher than normal so far in May. Numerous road closures and emergency water rescues were necessary. Record-breaking river flooding is likely in the coming days as runoff flows into larger streams and rivers.

 

Severe Cyclone Trevor Rolling Across Cape Yorke in Northern Queensland!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Trevor is a small but fierce cyclone about to move into the northern Cape Yorke peninsula. High winds and heavy rains will sweep across the peninsula through the next 24-36 hours. By late Wednesday into Thursday, Trevor will be emerging over the very warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Rapid intensification is likely before a potential second landfall this weekend in northeast NT!

 

 

Dangerous high winds and flooding rainfall are lashing the northeast coast of Queensland, especially from Innisfail north (see map above). Rainfall locally up to 400 mm is likely before the storm is over, leading to significant flash flooding. Damaging winds are affecting a smaller area of the peninsula, but within that zone gusts up to 175 kph are likely. Trevor could be even stronger for the second landfall as compared to the first with higher winds exceeding 200 kph! Trees and powerlines will come down with these winds, leading to prolonged power outages.

Historic River Flooding Sweeps the Plains and Midwest!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A wave of heavy rain swept through the Midwest and central Plains with the huge winter storm earlier this week. Temperatures also rose dramatically with the system after months of snow and sub-freezing weather. The combination of rapid snow melt and heavy rain have overwhelmed streams and rivers across the region. Numerous stations are reporting major flooding, some shattering previous record levels.

 

 

The map above shows river gauges reporting levels above flood stage with purple indicating major flooding. There are forty-four such stations from the Dakotas all the way to the central Gulf coast. Several rivers have surged to levels never previously recorded, inundating numerous houses and businesses and forcing widespread evacuations. Fifty-three counties in Nebraska alone have declared emergencies and requested federal aid. As with any large-scale river flood event, high waters are affecting tributaries now with flooding likely for the major rivers such as the Mississippi later on. Ice jams are exacerbating the flooding in many areas, demolishing roads and bridges. Below are some tweets showing the terrible toll exacted by the record flooding. Lead photo courtesy flickr contributor Lauri Vain.

 

 

 

Powerful Late Winter Cyclone Sweeps Across the Plains!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A large, historically strong winter storm is producing destructive impacts all the way from the Mexican to the Canadian borders. On the cold side, gusty winds are combining with heavy snow to produce a whiteout blizzard, closing numerous highways and interstates. To the south, hurricane-force wind gusts are blowing trees and powerlines over. Heavy rain and melting snow are resulting in flooding for portions of the Upper Midwest as well!

 

 

The storm intensified rapidly overnight Tuesday, rolling into the High Plains by early Wednesday. Numerous observation stations set new records for low pressure, readings usually associated with mature hurricanes. The extreme low pressure came with a surge of Arctic air north and west of the storm, producing very heavy snows up to two feet in spots. Winds also increased rapidly with widespread reports of gusts exceeding 70 mph (see map above). Colorado Springs reported a gust to 97 mph coinciding with heavy snow. The combination of heavy snow and high winds has brought prolonged blizzard conditions with near-zero visibilities and very high drifts. Travel has become virtually impossible with numerous highways and interstates closed from eastern Colorado to western Kansas, western Nebraska, and eastern Wyoming. Denver International Airport was completely closed down for much of the day with thousands of flights cancelled.

 

 

 

 

Gusts up to 100 mph or more have been reported south and east of the storm, blowing over trees, powerlines, and even some high-profile vehicles (see tweet video above). Amarillo, Texas reported wind gusts of 60-80 mph continuously for 8+ hours on Wednesday. Severe storms slammed central Texas from Tuesday afternoon into the overnight. Storm-induced wind gusts of 70-80 mph felled trees, powerlines, and semi trucks across the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro during the pre-dawn hours on Wednesday. A surge of warm Gulf moisture lifted all the way up to the Upper Midwest. Heavy rain showers affected the region on Wednesday, however the abnormally warm temperatures proved more harmful. Rapid snow melt quickly overloaded streams and rivers, resulting in flooding. Ice jams added to the flooding threat.