Tornado
Category archives for Tornado
How three storm chasers died, and what to do about it
Posted by Greg Laden on June 3, 2013 If you want to walk down Main Street, in downtown America, you can do that, because it is America. This is a free country and public space is public. But if the Acme Office Building, on Main Street, is on fire, broken glass is blowing out of windows and fire trucks and other emergency vehicles…
Three Famous Storm Chasers Were Killed in Oklahoma #twistex
Posted by Greg Laden on June 2, 2013 
Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras and their colleague Carl Young were killed yesterday when their research vehicle was crushed almost beyond recognition by a Tornado they were “chasing” in Oklahoma. If you ever watched Storm Chasers, the show on Discovery Channel (it is on Netflix) you may know of these guys. Tim Samaras’s team…
Understanding Storms and Global Warming: A Quaint Parable
Posted by Greg Laden on May 21, 2013 
A quaint New England rocky creek Imagine standing next to Parable Creek, an imaginary rocky brook in New England. The water is rushing past you from left to right, around the rocks that emerge tall above the surface of the stream, mounding over the top of those that are lower down. The deepest parts of…
Are there more tornadoes because of global warming?
Posted by Greg Laden on May 21, 2013 
There are good reasons to believe that global warming leads to more storminess, but the exact nature of that transition is unclear and hard to measure. Part of the reason for this difficulty is that a given type of storm may become more likely under certain conditions caused by climate change, while a different kind…
Tornadoes: Safety is all about attitude.
Posted by Greg Laden on March 22, 2012 Do you hear that loud, repeated smashing sound coming from the general direction of the Upper Midwest and Plains? That’s us. Here in Minnesota, we have been breaking high temperature records left and right. Most of the TV weather reporters are wearing slings, eye patches, and bandages around their heads, it’s been so intense. And,…
Wow, it’s raining Apples!
Posted by Greg Laden on December 15, 2011 Coventry England experienced a downpour of apples. This happened to me once, but all I got were these lousy bits of foliage.
“My little Minnesotans deserve the best and need your help!”
Posted by Greg Laden on October 7, 2011 Sunday, May 22nd, 2011: That is a day people around here will never forget. I remember standing in the maw of my open garage holding an iPad with the weather radar running on it. The weather map showed that a tornado was on top of me. Amanda, Julia and Huxley were in the basement preparing…
Are all these tornadoes being caused by global warming?
Posted by Greg Laden on May 25, 2011 People are asking me: Is the recent spate of tornadoes caused by global warming? The usual answer to that question is that you can’t answer the question because a tornado is not caused by climate … it is cause by weather … and global warming (which is real, and which is cause by humans) is…
Minneapolis Tornado Update: Info, Sad News, and the Politics of Race
Posted by Greg Laden on May 24, 2011 Two pieces of sad news, some useful information, and a personal note (well, more of a political note). First, the useful information. For those of you affected or busy passing information to those who are, the City of Minneapolis has set up this web page with information: Resources available for North Side residents affected by…
Leaves from the sky (Minneapolis Tornado)
Posted by Greg Laden on May 22, 2011 Have a look at this picture (click to enlarge):
Best info on the Tornado Swarm
Posted by Greg Laden on April 28, 2011 Jeff Masters’ WunderBlog is a key source of information on any current weather events: A stunning tornado outbreak of incredible violence has left at least 202 dead across the Eastern U.S.; injuries probably number over a thousand, with 600 injured in the town of Tuscaloosa alone. The tornadoes carved huge swaths of damage, completely flattening…
OK. Now, imma just tell you to buy a weather radio
Posted by Greg Laden on April 28, 2011 Are you in Alabama or any of the other areas hit by what may have been the largest recorded tornado event in US history? Let us know how you are. I have calls and emails out to friends in the region or links there and have not heard much back yet. In case you haven’t…
How To Avoid Tornado Deaths
Posted by Greg Laden on April 18, 2011 Dozens of people died in tornadoes in the US over the last couple of days, and most of those deaths were preventable. The truth is, most of those killed died because of a decision they made, so their death is to some extent their fault. But, for good reason, no one wants to blame the…
Some more tornado information
Posted by Greg Laden on April 16, 2011 Two reposts for your edification:
And now we start with the tornadoes. Are you ready?
Posted by Greg Laden on April 15, 2011 Huxley and I went to Target to look at weather radios and found out that they don’t carry them. But the three Target employees that were gathered near the cameras and electronics with whom we inquired were interested to know why we were looking for one. “You’re about the tenth person today who has asked…
Ducks blowing in the wind
Posted by Greg Laden on December 7, 2010 One day, about ten years ago, we were having a strong southerly fetch with small tornadoes popping out of the stormy front, so Julia and I were keeping an eye out the windows, watching wall clouds form and unform over our heads. Then, suddenly, there were these two ducks flying south, coming up over the…
Minnesotans: Help Wadena recover
Posted by Greg Laden on November 9, 2010 You may recall me mentioning a tornado last year in Wadena. “The town’s been flattened. I’m on my way there for a high school reunion. It looks more like it’s going to be a high school clean-up.” If you are in the region, I just wanted you to know about a fund raiser to help…
Tornado Footage from Minnesota
Posted by Greg Laden on June 18, 2010 This is as close as one can get: BTW, I believe it is recommended to NOT hide from a tornado in your car. Here’s some context:
Too Many Tornadoes
Posted by Greg Laden on August 20, 2009 .. and another repost apropos our recent tornado activity: Marilee Thomas of Beaver City, Nebraska. And a tornado. [source] Mid-Americans … Minnesotans, Texans, Nebraskans and denizens of Arkansas, and everyone in between, understand tornadoes, but to varying degrees. There are differences by region in how we deal with them. In Arkansas, I’ve seen foolish bravado.…
When is Tornado Season?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 20, 2009 Apropos the recent tornadic activity here, a repost: This story: 10 tornadoes confirmed in Ga., including one with winds topping 160 mph Ten tornadoes, one packing winds of more than 160 mph, touched down in parts of Georgia on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Friday. The storms caused an estimated $25 million in insured…
We have been hit with a fairly serious tornado.
Posted by Greg Laden on August 19, 2009 UPDATE: Our sirens are back on, but I don’t see anything. But, down in Minneapolis, I’m seeing the damage to the Electric Fetus. Bricks stripped off the outside wall, and broken windows in front, so they are shut down. The Mayor stopped by a minute ago, apparently. I wonder if they’ll have a sale????? (For…
Tornado Hits Ball Training Camp (updated)
Posted by Greg Laden on May 2, 2009 UPDATE: Confirming that four Cowboys staff members were injured, the extent of the injuries not established. No players or coaches injured. A quick flyby shot of the facility shows a big white and very flat building. The Irving Texas Cowboys training facility was hit with a tornado and collapsed. There is one injury reported, no…
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