Updraft: June 12, 2008 Archive

52 tornadoes

Posted at 7:08 AM on June 12, 2008 by Paul Huttner

52 tornadoes. That's the preliminary tornado count in the U.S. Wednesday from SPC. It appears 11 of those touched down in Minnesota Wednesday evening.

SPC storm reports

As you can see from the map above it's a good thing these storms weakened to just below severe levels as they moved into the southwest metro.

This marks the latest out break of tornadoes and severe weather in a year that features record numbers for the U.S. The preliminary tornado count this year is 1520. The actual number will likely end up closer to 1,000 when SPC sorts out all the duplicate reports. That's still way above the 10 year average for tornadoes, and close to the annual average of 1,200.

SPC tornado reports

Heavy rains fell again with the storms last night. Doppler estimates of more than 3 inches show up just east of Albert Lea along I-90 and south to just north of Mason City, Iowa.

Twin Cities NWS storm reports with doppler rainfall estimates

I'm keeping busy in the weather lab these days. The good news is after another slight chance of a few isolated T-Storms this afternoon; things will gradually quiet down over the next week.

Let's hope so!

PH

Be prepared

Posted at 2:51 PM on June 12, 2008 by Craig Edwards

Recently Paul Huttner wrote about the observation at the ball park of the lack of response when someone shouts "heads up" when a baseball is headed into the stands. There is an observed apathy towards any number of precautionary messages.

Thankfully the story about the Boy Scouts, in concert with local officials, being prepared likely saved lives yesterday when a tornado ripped through the camp. The National Weather Service had cautioned early in the day that conditions were ripe for ferocious wind storms. Give the leaders credit for doing their best when nature let loose the violent winds.

Boy Scout Camp

The heat has abated somewhat out east. In the first ten days of June, Raleigh, NC has posted an average high temperature of 95 degrees. Meanwhile, here in Minnesota we celebrate when the thermometer takes a run at 80. At 3PM local time, Raleigh was only 88 degrees but had a visibility of half mile in smoke.

Flood waters remain near historical levels in the nation's midsection, reminiscent of 1993. Hopefully a pause in torrential rains will occur in the most devastated areas.
CE