Severe weather!

[sundial]

Southern TE'ers, looks like we're going to have a rough afternoon and evening. The NWS is not only predicting strong storms, but strong tornados!

Please stay alert, have an evacuation plan ready to implement, and take your pets with you--even if you think you'll only be gone for a short period. Here is the latest weather bulletin:


Special Weather Statement

ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL- CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA- CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS- DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER- FAYETTE- GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD- HENDERSON-HENRY- ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE- LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS- MADISON- MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI- MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT- PHILLIPS- POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN- RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS- TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON- TISHOMINGO-TUNICA- UNION-WEAKLEY- YALOBUSHA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... ABERDEEN...AMORY...BARTLETT... BATESVILLE...BLYTHEVILLE...BOLIVAR... BOONEVILLE... CARUTHERSVILLE... CLARKSDALE...COLLIERVILLE...CORINTH... COVINGTON...DRESDEN...DYERSBURG... FORREST CITY...GERMANTOWN... HARRISBURG...HELENA...HUMBOLDT... HUNTINGDON...IUKA...JACKSON... JONESBORO...KENNETT...LEXINGTON... MARTIN...MEMPHIS...MILAN... MILLINGTON...NEW ALBANY...OLIVE BRANCH...OXFORD...PARAGOULD... PARIS... SAVANNAH...SOMERVILLE...SOUTHAVEN... TUNICA...TUPELO... UNION CITY...WALNUT RIDGE...WEST MEMPHIS...WYNNE 1030 AM CST TUE FEB 5 2008
...HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF THE MIDSOUTH...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL... WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. AREAS IN THE HIGH RISK ARE GENERALLY NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM LEXINGTON TENNESSEE TO OXFORD MISSISSIPPI. A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS LOCATED ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH...SOUTH AND EAST OF THIS LINE.

A WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS ALREADY IN PLACE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT WILL SLOWLY APPROACH FROM THE WEST. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE OVER THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING LIKELY RESULTING IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES. THE POTENTIAL WILL ALSO EXIST FOR STRONG TORNADOES TO DEVELOP. AN ADDITIONAL LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT.

THE PRIMARY TIME FRAME FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE BETWEEN 2 PM CST AND 10 PM CST FOR AREAS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND BETWEEN 4 PM CST AND 2 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OUT OF THE FORECAST AREA AFTER 2 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING BRINGING AN END TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.

ALL CITIZENS LIVING IN THE MIDSOUTH SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE LIKELIHOOD OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY AND TONIGHT. BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOURSELF IF SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION.

[mimitabby]

Hopefully, your primary isn't today! stay safe.

[sundial]

For those of you who have pets, the following tips may be helpful for you:


Plan for Pet Disaster Needs
· Identifying potential shelter for your pet - friends, hotels, veterinarian, NAFA. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets.
· Have a pet survival kit ready - pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later.
· Make sure identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.

During a Disaster
· Bring your pets inside immediately.
· Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid. Bringing them inside early can stop them from running away. Never leave a pet outside or tied up during a storm.
· Separate dogs and cats. Even if your dogs and cats normally get along, the anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally. Keep small pets away from cats and dogs.
If you must leave your home, take your pet with you. Do not leave your pet behind. You can contact NAFA to help you with care and shelter of your animal in case of disaster.

After a Disaster
· If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
· In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood areas. Downed power lines are a hazard.
· The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water.


www.nafacares.org

[SouthernBelle]

Looks like I have a shot of the worst of that going just south of me, maybe.

Yes, primary is today.

[Andrea]

I'm in Memphis in a little guest house built in the 1930's... I'm battening down the hatches!

[Tuckervill]

It's been skirting around us all day, but the big red blob just appeared on the radar to our west, and the trash cans started blowing across the yard.

It is primary day in Arkansas, and I put off going too long. Now I'll have to wait til this little line passes.

Karen

[Running Mommy]

Ohh Karen STAY SAFE!
I think that storm system is the same one that came through Phoenix yesterday. It was a bugger. Moved fast, but very cold air mass!
I was attempting to ride in it! - OY!
I could see problems when it hit a warmer air mass! YIPES! :eek:

We even had snow on the hills in the north valley.

[sundial]

The winds are starting to pick up here. Karen, hope you don't have any bad stuff over there. :eek:

[Thorn]

That storm finally started up here. We're looking at 7-11" of snow tonight and then another 4-8" tomorrow. Some reports are saying 20" total might be a sure bet. Thunder and winds of 33-37.

Sob....and I read an article this morning that says this storm pattern we've been in for the last couple of weeks is going to continue...


...a persistent upper air flow has been carrying low-pressure systems from the upper Pacific Coast south to Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. The storm systems have gathered moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, then tracked north and east, right into a sweet spot over northern Illinois. . . And looking ahead for a week or two, the professor sees almost an endless supply of those systems...

I feel for y'all on the southern path, but, I'll trade you your rain for my snow...of course, I'm not sure my basement will tolerate the rain anymore than my roof loves all that snow up there. It is a no win...just gotta accept it.

[bmccasland]

Been VERY windy all day here in the Big Easy. Feels like there's now a chill in the air. Was in the low 80's F today, supposed to be 20 degrees or so cooler tomorrow. Thunderstorms tonight - just in time to chase the Mardi Gras revelers in around midnight (much to the delight of NOPD)

[sundial]

I've been surprised that we've only had a tornado watch for now. It's relatively calm. Course we have all night ahead of us but maybe the cells will pass just north of us.

I hope it doesn't bring a dozen tornados with it. :eek:

[sundial]

More from NWS:


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 37 IN
EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN EAST ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES

CLAY CRAIGHEAD CRITTENDEN
CROSS GREENE LAWRENCE
LEE MISSISSIPPI PHILLIPS
POINSETT RANDOLPH ST. FRANCIS

IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 22 COUNTIES

ALCORN BENTON CALHOUN
CHICKASAW COAHOMA DESOTO
ITAWAMBA LAFAYETTE LEE
MARSHALL MONROE PANOLA
PONTOTOC PRENTISS QUITMAN
TALLAHATCHIE TATE TIPPAH
TISHOMINGO TUNICA UNION
YALOBUSHA

IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES

DUNKLIN PEMISCOT

IN WEST TENNESSEE THIS WATCH INCLUDES 20 COUNTIES

CARROLL CHESTER CROCKETT
DECATUR DYER FAYETTE
GIBSON HARDEMAN HARDIN
HAYWOOD HENDERSON HENRY
LAKE LAUDERDALE MADISON
MCNAIRY OBION SHELBY
TIPTON WEAKLEY

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...ABERDEEN...AMORY...BARTLETT...
BATESVILLE...BLYTHEVILLE...BOLIVAR...BOONEVILLE...
CARUTHERSVILLE...CLARKSDALE...COLLIERVILLE...CORINTH...
COVINGTON...DRESDEN...DYERSBURG...FORREST CITY...GERMANTOWN...
HARRISBURG...HELENA...HUMBOLDT...HUNTINGDON...IUKA...JACKSON...
JONESBORO...KENNETT...LEXINGTON...MARTIN...MEMPHIS...MILAN...
MILLINGTON...NEW ALBANY...OLIVE BRANCH...OXFORD...PARAGOULD...
PARIS...SAVANNAH...SOMERVILLE...SOUTHAVEN...TUNICA...TUPELO...
UNION CITY...WALNUT RIDGE...WEST MEMPHIS AND WYNNE.

[Thorn]

I hope it doesn't bring a dozen tornados with it. :eek:

No kidding...this is the wrong season! During one of the other big storms of the season, I was driving home and the radio interrupted with the tornado watch. I did a double take--it is winter, albiet an angry winter. That tornato missed us, but did do damage south of here.

I can't complain too much, yet--right now it looks like we're on the outer edges of this mess. I feel for for those of you in the primary path.

[jusdooit]

Sundial where are you? (if you don't mind my asking) I just caught our local weather (Jackson, Ms) which said storms will not approach until late and will be an all night event. We had a shower about an hour or so ago and temps dropped some, but it's been very windy all day. I really hate severe weather. Plus I have 2 dogs & a cat to take care of.

[sandra]

It's really windy here too. It's supposed to hit around midnight.:(

[Tuckervill]

It's past me in NW Arkansas. We got hardly anything after that initial burst--my little town, anyway. The larger part of the area kinda got slammed with hail and thunderstorms. The wind was so bad that both of my front doors (think really old house with 2 front doors) had rain on the windows, even though they both sit about 5 feet back on the porch!

It's cold outside already, but it was warm and muggy this morning. Having just come home from the Caribbean, I'm bummed. :P

Karen

[tulip]

Yep, we're in for hail tomorrow. That's May weather, not February!

[sundial]

Ok, we've got towns hit by tornados all around us. Gassville and Ash Flat are shut down and only authorities are allowed in. Atkins reportedly got hit bad and there are 3 deaths. Jonesboro is about to get clocked by the cell. This is one mother of a storm.

My aussie headed for the bathtub before the storm even hit here. Then Kali had to try to join in the *fun* and I figured there is no room for me if all the furkids pile into the bathtub. :eek:

Tuckervill, here's what's going on in our neck of the woods:

www.kait8.com

[sundial]

Sundial where are you?

I'm in NE Arkansas.

Andrea, any damage? I heard that Southhaven had a tornado touch down right at rush hour. :eek:

Sandra, are you getting any winds/rain/hail yet?

Everyone check in when you can and let us know how you are. This is a very, very dangerous storm.

[sundial]

Signs of rotation now in Blytheville on 1-55. West Memphis, looks like it will be knocking on your door sooner than later.

[Brandi]

oh sundial do be careful! You aren't by yourself are you. i know you have your fur kids and all but....

[sandra]

Sandra, are you getting any winds/rain/hail yet?

Wind, wind, STRONG wind. No rain or hail. It's getting close though.

anybody have any of that hail the size of canned hams yet???

[Running Mommy]

Our STOOPID news is all about pooper tuesday, but they did mention offhand that there was some serious damage- and many deaths.
I'm praying for all ya'll in the south! Be safe!! Check in!

[LBTC]

Yikes! Sending butterflies to all of you TE'ers near the storms! Hoping they'll keep you and your loved ones, furkids and all, safe from harm!

Please keep checking in!

Hugs,
~T~

[sandra]

We had storms and were up walking the floor at 2:30 a.m. but it was moving pretty quickly. Everything is OK here.

[Tuckervill]

Okay, now it's FRIKKIN SNOWING!

This weather is CRAZY!

Atkins, Gassville, Ash Flat, all got hit. It's very hard to find any specific information, but so far, 11 dead just in Arkansas. I've been using this site to see where they were. http://www.wunderground.com/tornado/

In '04 my husband's place of business took a direct hit in Jackson, TN. Jackson got hit again last night.

The storm system was still moving through MS and AL when I awoke at 2:00 am and I don't think it's through, yet. Sending out the good vibes for all of you in the path.

Karen

[sundial]

Snowing this morning?? Now?

The Jonesboro Sun reported 6 deaths in Arkansas. The Atkins tornado touched down in the middle of town and took the lives of a couple and their 11 yr old daughter. :( It was a very bad storm but moved very quickly. Any TE'ers in TN? Are the rest of you all ok? Any property damage?

We managed to escape damage.

[Andrea]

Parts of Memphis sustained some pretty bad damage.
The south central area near the airport was hit hard and had some massive damage to warehouses (thankfully, there aren't many homes in the area because the airport owns the property for noise control & expansion purposes). There were some deaths in one of the warehouses that collapsed.
The other damaged part of the city was a low income area called Hickory Hill. A lot of homes as well as the mall was severely damaged and looting and gunfire ensued immediately.

Thankfully, all my area got was some wind & rain.

[sundial]

Which mall in Memphis was hit? I just read the roof of the Sears building was blown off.

[Andrea]

It was the Sears at Hickory Ridge Mall. It's been reported that before the security guards could even make sure that everyone was accounted for and uninjured that area residents were stealing whatever they could carry from the damaged areas of the store. I <3 Memphis.

[sundial]

Oh man! I remember when Hickory Ridge Mall was THE mall to shop at before Wolfchase was built.

Glad you are ok and that your home wasn't damaged. Did you get hail?

[Andrea]

I don't know- I was hunkered down in a mildewy basement with my dogs while the storm came through!

[SouthernBelle]

The worst of the storm passed just north of me. If you read about the big fire at the gasline transmission station, that's about 20 miles away. The community of Castalian Springs was flattened including some historic homes. Also significant areas of Macon County. They are searching for bodies as it gets lighter.

[Tuckervill]

Which part of Hickory Hill is considered low income now? When I lived in Bartlett, Hickory Hill had expensive homes--although the last time I drove through there it seemed like it had gotten a little scary.

I'm sad about Memphis getting hit. I wonder if the area south of Fedex HQ got hit? I have friends who live there.

Karen

[sundial]

The worst of the storm passed just north of me. If you read about the big fire at the gasline transmission station, that's about 20 miles away. The community of Castalian Springs was flattened including some historic homes. Also significant areas of Macon County. They are searching for bodies as it gets lighter.

Susan, are you in TN or GA?

[Andrea]

Which part of Hickory Hill is considered low income now? When I lived in Bartlett, Hickory Hill had expensive homes--although the last time I drove through there it seemed like it had gotten a little scary.

I'm sad about Memphis getting hit. I wonder if the area south of Fedex HQ got hit? I have friends who live there.

Karen
The whole thing- the largest houses in the neighborhoods are selling for <200k now, and the gang activity is getting out of hand. It's a lot like the Mall of Memphis area as that mall began its decline.

Oh yeah, and the only Fed Ex damage I've heard of was the roof of a fire station at the hub.

[makbike]

Kentucky got hit hard last night and in the early hours of today. 7 are confirmed dead in the Commonwealth. When I went to bed at 11:30 the radar screen was ugly - loaded with reds and oranges. Lots of potential areas for tornados as well. I evidently slept through the storms as they passed over my tiny little town but did wake at 2:30 to discover I had no power. I set the alarm on my cell phone and went back to sleep. When my alarm went off I still had no power and quickly set about lightling candles for some light and pulling out my little battery operated radio - news was not good. The only good news that came across was that my school district was closed for the day - I would speculate it was due to the loss of power in the county. Power is back on and I'm heading out to ride - might as well take advantage of the 60F temp now for it is suppose to snow toward the end of the week.

[SouthernBelle]

Susan, are you in TN or GA?

I'm in TN, about 30 miles east of Nashville.

[sundial]

Makbike and Susan, so glad you guys are ok. If I had my choice of when to have severe weather, I would rather have all the sirens going off in the early evening than after midnight. :eek: I slept in my *tornado clothes* just in case I'm on the t.v. describing the sounds of the tornado. ;) :D

All I saw was one large green and red line moving through the whole state of Arkansas into TN and MS. It was a bad storm. :mad: Hope we don't have that during official tornado season.

Here's what my furkids did while we were listening to the weather reports:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/JodiandKaliintub.jpg :rolleyes:

[Andrea]

^^Hahahahaaaaa, they are adorable!!!! It looks like either they love getting a bath or you never use that tub, because mine would never look that happy in the "dog tub" in my house!

[jusdooit]

VERY cute picture of the fur kids. Susan glad you're ok up your way. We dodged a bullet last night, The worst of the storm hit here after midnight, but it had weakened considerably since things had kinda cooled down a bit. We had a record high of 81 yesterday and if the storms had been moving any faster it would have been bad. My heart goes out to all in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tn, especially those areas hardest hit. Glad to here all are safe.

[sundial]

LOL! I do wash the dogs in the tub and believe it or not they like it. Jodi the aussie was the first one in so she could spread out and take up all of the tub. :rolleyes: Kali made her move and she jumped in thinking it was a fun game. At least we had entertainment in our *safe* room. :D

[Brandi]

Sundial and i have been emailing eachother a bit and I thought I should share my last email cause it adds a little hummor to this sever storm post.
And by the way sundial those doggies of your are sooooooo cute! My gosh did they bring a smile to my face when I saw that picture! Both are my favorite breeds too. Grew up with both. Sugar and skyla were there names! ok here is what i wrote sundial.

I am glad things are calm today.
Funny story- My brother lives in Mississippi. So he was in on your storms yesterday too. Well he's weather radio went off at he's office so he called my sister in law and told her to get the boys (3) and get in the bathroom! Well after a while everything calmed down. But my brother forgot to call my sister in law back. So he calls her after about a half an hour. She was going nuts! There are no windows in the bathroom so she could not tell what was going on outside and the boys were in there farting and laughing! She was a bit mad at my brother for forgetting about them! I thought it was very funny. I needed a good laugh!

[sundial]

I'm re-reading your story and I can't help but laugh!! http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/happy/happy0194.gif (http://www.allthedates.com) http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/mad/mad0012.gif (http://www.allthedates.com) http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/happy/happy0188.gif (http://www.allthedates.com)

[Mr. Bloom]

Check out www.jacksonsun.com

Look at the damage at Union University. Look at the reader submitted photos.

Union is an outstanding Southern Baptist school on a beautiful new campus north of Jackson (1 hr NW of Memphis).

This is the second major tornado to hit Jackson in the last five years. The last time, the city learned that:
- after all the hype, and
- after all the politician's promises
- no one really helps...

I know I'm cynical, but I hate to see politicians capitalize on misery...

[Tuckervill]

The tornado that hit Jackson the first time also hit my husband's place of business out near Pringles Park. (We were living in Fayette County at the time.) The roof was torn off and most of the inventory was destroyed. And then it was almost 24/7 for about 3 weeks working to get it put back together.

I think they escaped this one, but Jackson lost some historic buildings during the last one. And you're right, Union was a beautiful campus--but town has reached it now, so it's no longer "north". :)

Karen

[sundial]

This is the second major tornado to hit Jackson in the last five years. The last time, the city learned that:
- after all the hype, and
- after all the politician's promises
- no one really helps...

I know I'm cynical, but I hate to see politicians capitalize on misery...

You're right! My dad is part of the Baptist mobile disaster team and it's the grassroots organizations that get it done--not the government.

[Mr. Bloom]

Ironic...after a tornado hit Evansville a couple years ago killing 20+ residents, folks calling the City and the Red Cross to volunteer were referred to our church for assignment and mobilization.

[Tuckervill]

Yes, in Atkins, AR, the local news said to take stuff to First Baptist--but they did say call the Red Cross to donate money.

Karen

[Andrea]

Ironic...after a tornado hit Evansville a couple years ago killing 20+ residents, folks calling the City and the Red Cross to volunteer were referred to our church for assignment and mobilization.
Evansville, IN? I was born there :D

[Brandi]

Check out www.jacksonsun.com

Look at the damage at Union University. Look at the reader submitted photos.

Union is an outstanding Southern Baptist school on a beautiful new campus north of Jackson (1 hr NW of Memphis).

This is the second major tornado to hit Jackson in the last five years. The last time, the city learned that:
- after all the hype, and
- after all the politician's promises
- no one really helps...

I know I'm cynical, but I hate to see politicians capitalize on misery...
Ditto!
And it seems that all thatwas talked about on the news yesterday was super tuesday super tuesday! Oh and little about the weather.

[Bad JuJu]

This is the second major tornado to hit Jackson in the last five years. The last time, the city learned that:
- after all the hype, and
- after all the politician's promises
- no one really helps...

I know I'm cynical, but I hate to see politicians capitalize on misery...
I couldn't agree more. Having lived through two major Gulf coast hurricanes, I can attest that after most storms, you need to be able to take care of your family and yourself because you're essentially on your own.

[sundial]

I think people want to help communities after the disaster. What they don't realize is how long it takes to recover.

My dad went to NOLA on 3 accounts after hurricane Katrina to help with food preparation and distribution. He said even after the third visit, which was about 4 months after the hurricane, there was still so much debris and damaged homes. People were walking daily with buckets to the nearest source of water to gather it for a days worth of bath water and cooking. :(

[Mr. Bloom]

Evansville, IN? I was born there :D

Ironic...we moved to Evansville from Memphis!