Severe Weather Threat - May 6, 2024

[vanni9283]

I just wonder what makes most NWS offices will go with a 165 mph EF3 instead of a low-end EF4. They seem like there about the same thing.

I will say this. Common sense to me suggests EF4 intensity. However the building damage only suggests EF3 due to the lack of quality construction. I think with the way the EF-scale is used nowadays, building construction supersedes common sense when it comes to NWS offices determining a final rating.

 

[TH2002]

Nothing compared to the Barnsdall nightmare, but it looks like a (thankfully weak) tornado occurred in Joplin with the line of storms last night. Looks to have touched down on the fringes of the 2011 tornado path south of where Joplin High School was wrecked (in the 2011 tornado), and crossed its path at Connecticut Avenue.

 

[Maxis_s]

Surprising considering I don't think most tree damage gets rated higher than EF3. Might need to take a look at the EF-scale DI's again.

I think Rolling Fork had an EF4 DI for tree damage? I'll double check.
It's very likely this was rated EF4 for structural damage, but the extreme tree damage just makes it more likely that other EF4 damage occurred.

 

[Shakespeare 2016]

I will say this. Common sense to me suggests EF4 intensity. However the building damage only suggests EF3 due to the lack of quality construction. I think with the way the EF-scale is used nowadays, building construction supersedes common sense when it comes to NWS offices determining a final rating.

I agree with you.

 

[Maxis_s]

I think Rolling Fork had an EF4 DI for tree damage? I'll double check.

Yep.
Funny enough, there was also several EF4 DIs for ground scouring and wind-rowing. Interesting.

 

[andyhb]

Tree damage can and has been rated EF4 before if it is very high end. The Bassfield, Louisville, and Rolling Fork MS tornadoes all earned EF4 ratings for tree damage amongst other DIs.

 

[Shakespeare 2016]

I will say this. Common sense to me suggests EF4 intensity. However the building damage only suggests EF3 due to the lack of quality construction. I think with the way the EF-scale is used nowadays, building construction supersedes common sense when it comes to NWS offices determining a final rating.

Like Camp Crook, SD/Capitol, MT is a great example.

 

[Mike S]

I was so wrapped up in Oklahoma I missed that there was an EF1 that damaged homes in Smithville, Tn last night as well.

 

[Shakespeare 2016]

Barnsdall tornado EF4.

JPWX....First EF4 tornado in May since 2019.

 

[JPWX]

JPWX....First EF4 tornado in May since 2019.

Actually May 2016 in Oklahoma, but if you are talking nationwide for May, then it would be May 2019 in Kansas.

 

[warneagle]

Color me surprised given construction, tree damage certainly seems extreme though

This would have been a very very ugly day if things had played out as expected seeing how strong the one significant tornado that happened managed to be

Good reminder of how big of a bullet we dodged. Could’ve easily had 3-4 more of those.

 

[jiharris0220]

Insane that Oklahoma went 8 years without a single violent tornado and then get hit with 2 back to back in less than 2 weeks from separate outbreaks.

Mother Nature truly likes to wrought her disasters in bundles.

 

[Equus]

Sounds like very appropriate use of contextuals which I heavily support

That is the first EF4 rating from that office since Denning, AR, on 5/25/11, also a bit of a nocturnal nightmare tornado

 

[Kds86z]

Deadly Barnsdall tornado gets preliminary EF4 rating, search continues for missing man: What we know

At least one person died and widespread damage was reported after severe storms and tornadoes hit Oklahoma late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

www.koco.com

Still a missing man who was in his trailer home when tornado hit. I wouldn’t be optimistic.

 

[Tanner]

Wow. Very violent contextual damage from the Barnsdall tornado.

 

[Maxis_s]

Wow. Very violent contextual damage from the Barnsdall tornado.

That's some of the most incredible damage I've seen in a long time. My god.

 

[atrainguy]

A news video about a family reuniting with their cat in Barnsdall.

 

[Maxis_s]

How long has it been since we've had ground scouring like this?

 

[Tempestas Tonitrua]

How long has it been since we've had ground scouring like this?

Ground scouring is one of those “weird” areas in that it can be completely random and can come down to things like soil composition, how much rain has there been, soil quality etc. there was a really good string of comments by Buckeye and someone else recently discussing some of the drawbacks of using “ground scouring” as an indicator of tornado intensity. IIRC, EF2s have caused ground scouring before

 

[Maxis_s]

Ground scouring is one of those “weird” areas in that it can be completely random and can come down to things like soil composition, how much rain has there been, soil quality etc. there was a really good string of comments by Buckeye and someone else recently discussing some of the drawbacks of using “ground scouring” as an indicator of tornado intensity. IIRC, EF2s have caused ground scouring before

Yeah, I saw the discussion about that, but this looks pretty extreme and probably fits in the category of violent/classic ground scouring.