Tornado Strikes Sasolburg, South Africa; 1 Dead, Over 100 Injured...

An apparent tornado struck Sasolburg, Free State in South Africa before dawn today (U.S. time).  According to media reports, an elderly woman was killed and over 105 people were injured.  Over 1,000 homes "have been affected" according to the Independent Online news service.



The following photo of damage was posted on twitter by "kgitsane".  If you look closely in the background, you can see apparent damage to the roofs of the homes, and obviously you can see remnants of the twisted metal roofs in the foreground:

Here are some another damage photos posted via twitter.  The original photographers were not identified:

As you can see, construction type varies greatly across the region, from no more than a metal shack to better constructed, brick veneer on wood frames.  With that in mind, its easy to see how more than 100 people could have been injured, and though a horrible loss for the family of the deceased person, its amazing that only 1 person was killed.

The vast range of construction types is even better illustrated by this video of the damage that has just emerged on YouTube:

Sasolburg (circled in red on the map below) is located about 45 miles to the South/Southwest of Johannesburg (circled in purple on the map below):

The same general area was also hit by a tornado in February of last year.  Tornadoes are not unheard of in this region, especially during the months of November through January. 

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

Coming March 2013:  The Tornado Chronicles full website!

Including information on every U.S. tornado since 1950, tornado safety, preparedness and education as well as interactive radar, tornado outlooks, watches and warnings, and much more!  Please show your support and follow The Tornado Chronicles on twitter and on facebook for the latest updates on tornadoes and the upcoming website!

Read More

Southern Storm to Bring Snow to Texas and New Mexico...

The latest water vapor satellite image (above) shows a middle and upper level low pressure center just off of the Northern coast of the Baja peninsula in Mexico.  This system will slowly move out toward the East over the next 48-60 hours, spreading snow to the lowlands of southern Mexico and southwest Texas, and light rain across much of the main body of the Lone Star State.

The most noteworthy aspect of the precipitation that will take place Thursday into Friday will no doubt be the the snow that will take place across southcentral and southeastern New Mexico into southwest Texas, including the El Paso area.

The latest run of the high resolution NAM computer model is forecasting widespread 2-4 inch snowfall amounts in this region, with localized amounts in excess of 6 inches as shown in yellow and red:

A narrow ribbon of light snow accumulation is also forecast for Northwestern portions of the Hill Country, mainly to the West of I-35.

A Winter Storm Watch is currently in effect for late tonight through Friday morning across the region shown in blue on the image below:

Travel will become hazardous on Thursday along I-10 from about Ft. Stockton on West to El Paso, so please plan accordingly if you have to use that route.

On the "warm" side of the system, widespread light rain will spread toward the East across Texas from Thursday through Saturday.  Unfortunately, much of the precipitation will be so light that it will be hard to measure.  Outside of the areas that receive snowfall, the best chance of accumulating moisture will take place along the southern border areas, as well as perhaps a narrow band of 0.25 to 0.50 inch amounts in the western Hill Country through Saturday morning:

Widespread cloudiness and light precipitation will keep temperatures well below seasonal normals across the region through Saturday as well, with a "bullseye" of temperatures at 25-30 degrees below normal across southwest Texas centered on 12 Noon CST this Friday:

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More

The Tornado Chronicles: Bodock Farms, AL (Near Montgomery) Tornado of December 25, 2012

A strong tornado touched down just to the Southwest of Mongtomery, AL, in the Bodock Farms area of Lowndes County on Christmas Day 2012.  

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) survey, the tornado touched down at approximately 8:32 pm CST about 2 miles Northwest of Hayneville and traveled North/Northeast for 9.55 miles before lifting at approximately 8:46 pm about 7 miles West of the Montgomery Regional Airport:

The maximum intensity of the tornado according to the damage survey was EF-2, with winds estimated at 120 mph.

Hundreds of trees and several power poles were bent or snapped as the tornado initially touched down and crossed State Highway 97 to the Northwest of Hayneville:

The EF-2 intensity damage took place at a farm as the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 80 to the East of Lowndesboro.  Here, two large cattle barns were heavily damaged or destroyed, including the metal supports being bent and/or collapsed:

The tornado also lofted a large steel trash dumpster and threw it approximately 250 yards across Highway 80.  Debris from the farm was found over 1/4 of a mile to the North/Northeast.

Most of the remainder of the damage along the tornado's path was EF-0 or EF-1 intensity, associated with damage to trees and/or tree limbs.  There was a roof that was partially removed on a manufactured home just to the Northeast of where the EF-2 damage took place:

The tornado lifted just to the North of the entrance to the old GE Plastics plant along CR-37.  The tornado flipped several empty semi-trailers on the property before lifting just to the North of Gate 1, to the East of CR-37.

Just like most of the other tornadoes associated with the Christmas Day 2012 outbreak, no photos or videos of the actual tornado have been provided thus far.  We'll continue to keep our eyes open and post any updates as new information is discovered.

This EF-2 tornado was the 3rd in a series of tornadoes that were produced by the same supercell thunderstorm.  The other two tornadoes were weak and very short lived.  The first touched down near Farmersville (EF-1 intensity) at 8:09 pm and the second touched down to the East of Mosses (EF-0 intensity) at 8:26 pm:

After producing the third, strongest (EF-2) and longest track tornado at Bodock Farms, the same supercell thunderstorm continued to exhibit strong signs of rotation on radar as it moved Northeast across the Northwest side of the city of Montgomery (white circled area on the wind velocity radar images below):

Fortunately, despite the strong radar indication of a tornado, no touch downs were reported as the storm moved into the much more heavily populated suburbs of northwestern Montgomery.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More

The Tornado Chronicles: Troy, AL Tornado of December 25, 2012

The tornado that tracked to the West and Northwest of Troy, AL (also dubbed the "Conecuh River Tornado") on Christmas Day 2012 has been rated at a maximum of EF-2 intensity by the National Weather Service (NWS) survey team.

The videographer didn't do a very good job of steadying the camera at several instances, but here is a thorough aerial documentation of the tornado's path that has been posted on YouTube:

According to the survey, the tornado initially touched down at approximately 10:24 pm CST just over 1 mile West of Goshen and lifted at approximately 10:40 pm CST about 5 miles North of Troy:

The most intense damage along the tornado's path took place along County Road 11, about 2.75 miles North/Northeast of Goshen.  This is where the EF-2 intensity damage was observed by the survey team, which included mobile homes that were rolled and destroyed by the tornado:

EF-2 damage was also noted along County Road 1101, where several brick veneer homes were significantly damaged:

The tornado then weakened as it continued Northeast, producing mainly EF-0 to EF-1 intensity damage to trees before lifting near County Road 103:

Just like the majority of the other tornadoes that took place on Christmas Day 2012, there are no known photos or videos of the tornado itself that have come forward to date.  We'll continue to be on the lookout and post any new information and/or photos as they become available.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More

The Tornado Chronicles: Pennington, TX Tornado of December 25, 2012

The first tornado of the Christmas Day 2012 Outbreak was a strong one that impacted a mostly rural area (thank Goodness) to the Northwest of Pennington, TX during the morning hours.

The National Weather Service (NWS) ground survey detected EF-3 intensity damage, with maximum winds estimated at 150 mph.  The tornado reached a maximum width of 300 yards, and was on the ground for approximately 7 miles.

The tornado initially touched down at approximately 9:25 am CST, about 5 miles West/Southwest of Pennington.  It then traveled in a general Northeasterly direction for approximately 7 miles before lifting at 9:35 a.m. CST, about 2 miles North of Pennington:

The worst of the damage took place along Highway 287, approximately one mile Northwest of Pennington.  This is where the EF-3 damage was observed, with a metal building system completely destroyed:

The following YouTube video shows additional damage in this same general vicinity along Highway 287:

Otherwise, several mobile homes were heavily damaged along the path of the tornado, with mostly EF-1 and EF-2 intensity damage noted.

Just before the tornado lifted just to the North of Pennington, it rolled and destroyed a travel trailer, thankfully, no one was injured:

Just like the majority of the other tornadoes that took place on Christmas Day 2012, there are no known photos or videos of the tornado itself that have come forward to date.  We'll continue to be on the lookout and post any new information and/or photos as they become available.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More

The Tornado Chronicles: Monticello, MS Tornado of December 25, 2012

A strong tornado tracked just to the West and Northwest of Monticello, MS (Lawrence County) during the mid to late afternoon hours of Christmas Day, 2012.

The National Weather Service (NWS) ground survey rated this tornado EF-2 intensity, with maximum winds estimated at 120 mph.  Approximately 7 people were injured as a result of this tornado, which reached a maximum width of one-quarter mile.

The tornado initially touched down at approximately 3:35 pm CST, 8.25 miles West/Southwest of Monticello.  It then tracked generally toward the Northeast for approximately 9.2 miles before lifting 1.5 mile North of Monticello at approximately 3:44 pm CST:

The tornado initially produced damage mainly to trees and some minor damage to roof shingles:

As it tracked Northeast toward James Cox road, the tornado widened to nearly 1/4 mile, and took off a portion of the roof of at least 1 home:

The width of the tornado decreased as it approached Highway 84, but the tornado intensified, producing EF-2 intensity damage to several mobile homes and travel trailers which were lifted off the ground and thrown back down to be completely destroyed (photo via examiner.com):

This area of enhanced damage is also where the 7 injuries took place (which required hospitalization - there were likely other minor injuries as well).  A small business in the area also had substantial roof damage and two exterior walls were blown down (photo not available as of this writing).

The tornado then decreased in intensity as it traveled Northeast beyond Highway 84, producing mainly light tree damage before lifting to the North of Monticello.

Just like the majority of the other tornadoes that took place on Christmas Day 2012, there are no known photos or videos of the tornado itself that have come forward to date.  We'll continue to be on the lookout and post any new information and/or photos as they become available.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More

The Tornado Chronicles: Riderwood, AL Tornado of December 25, 2012

A short lived but strong tornado touched down near the Community of Riderwood in Choctaw County, Alabama during the late afternoon hours of Christmas Day, 2012.  The tornado was rated EF-2 intensity with maximum winds estimated within the 111-135 mph range.

The National Weather Service (NWS) survey of this tornado notes a starting point along Pineview Road near Riderwood, or about 8 miles West/Southwest of Butler, AL, around 4:45 pm CST.  The tornado then traveled generally toward the Northeast for 6 miles, lifting approximately 4.6 miles Northwest of Butler, AL at about 4:56 pm CST.  

The tornado produced EF-2 damage very near where it first touched down, with 3 manufactured homes completely destroyed.  One of the homes rolled over and the debris was carried several hundred yards away:

The tornado then continued to the Northeast and mainly caused EF-0 or EF-1 intensity damage to trees and some power lines:

Fortunately, the tornado became almost one-half mile wide as it crossed Riderwood Drive in a very rural area, shortly before dissipating.  Had the tornado tracked just over 3 miles to the East at that point, it would have dealt a potentially devastating blow to the town of Butler.

Just like the majority of the other tornadoes that took place on Christmas Day 2012, there are no known photos or videos of the tornado itself that have come forward to date.  We'll continue to be on the lookout and post any new information and/or photos as they become available.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

Read More