first. you don't need to be like that. second, i didn't realize it was this thread. i thought it was the EF-scale ratings debate thread.
i really wish we had todays radar back then.
Yeah the Greensburg supercell reminds me of the Blackwell-Udall one in terms of multiple massive and violent wedges being spawned in quick succession of one another.
That’s why a lot of people considered it a minimal EF5 there are hardly any images of the EF5 damage. They either got lost over time or the media ignored them altogether, I had to dig really deep to find some of these photos and I’m glad I did to shed light on just how powerful this tornado was. I’ve also got some more pictures of the damage caused by the 3 wedges later on but I’m sure most of you have already seen them on my Twitter.
The house in the 5th photo appears to have anchor bolts. That is probably the first case of anchor bolted homes being swept away (that were clearly photographed and assuming cleanup has not taken place in that photo) I've seen from Greensburg.Not really motivated to go back and see what has and hasn't been posted re: Greensburg, so here's some random stuff. I believe the first one here was a mail truck IIRC.
The last picture looks quite similar to some damage we have seen in downtown Mayfield. Maybe It was from downtown Greensburg and downtown Greensburg wasn't even in the core of the tornado Iirc. Also there was seemingly concrete pillar showed on the ground torn from unknown building.Not really motivated to go back and see what has and hasn't been posted re: Greensburg, so here's some random stuff. I believe the first one here was a mail truck IIRC.
Really weird how the F5 damage path abruptly narrows around one building then suddenly widens up again; perhaps the work of a subvortex or a narrowing of the core? Either way, really weird and striking.So, I've been thinking about making full damage contour maps, if not for every 5/31/85 tornado, at least for some of the primary ones. It's kind of a pain and there's obviously a fair bit of guesswork involved, but I think it's pretty interesting. This is just a rough start to get a feel for it, but is this something y'all would be interested in?
(There are two F5 areas here btw, just forgot to change the transparency for the one on the left.)
Edit: Also there's no marker for the uncounted fatality that I found because I haven't been able to nail down an exact address yet. I believe it may have been near the Shenango Hotel, which would've been dead center of the larger F5 area where there's already a marker (someone was killed at the hotel itself).
Yeah, hard to tell from the few aerial views exactly what was going on, but the core (subvorts or otherwise) was quite wobbly. The main F4/F5 streak in Niles was similarly squiggly. Not really that uncommon though - damage patterns are often pretty weird, especially violent damage.
ericsweatherlibrary.com
The basement of the house with the walls swept away....wowNot really motivated to go back and see what has and hasn't been posted re: Greensburg, so here's some random stuff. I believe the first one here was a mail truck IIRC.
I’m guessing it is just a baseless rumor.In terms of Joplin, I have a question about its hospital damage. I've seen several sources said the entire hospital was moved by tornado about 4 inches but I've never seen NWS confirmed this. So did anyone know whether It was a rumor or fact because It's quite hard to believe for me that building of such magnitude can be moved by a tornado, especially the hospital was not in the absolute center of the tornado.
one of the place mentioned this:
F5 Tornadoes: The Chronology – Part III
In A Blink, Their World Vanished (cont’d) Franklin, Kansas – May 4, 2003 May, 2003 was the most active tornado month in recorded history with over 400 tornadoes touching down across the…
I've heard so many different things about this, but I have no idea where it originated. It was widely reported in the news, but neither Tim Marshall's survey nor the NIST study mentioned it. The NIST study found that there was significant damage to the building envelope, which is what led to the 12 impact-related fatalities there, but I don't think they found any structural deformation. Well, except for the emergency generator building, which was closest to the tornado's track and was pretty much demolished.In terms of Joplin, I have a question about its hospital damage. I've seen several sources said the entire hospital was moved by tornado about 4 inches but I've never seen NWS confirmed this. So did anyone know whether It was a rumor or fact because It's quite hard to believe for me that building of such magnitude can be moved by a tornado, especially the hospital was not in the absolute center of the tornado.
one of the place mentioned this:
F5 Tornadoes: The Chronology – Part III
In A Blink, Their World Vanished (cont’d) Franklin, Kansas – May 4, 2003 May, 2003 was the most active tornado month in recorded history with over 400 tornadoes touching down across the…
I typically roll my eyes at these engineering only surveys, but for once, I kinda agree. I remember the Naplate tornado, and I remember thinking “Hmm that seems a bit high given the damage severity” when the EF3 rating was assigned.
As far as I know, it isn’t mentioned in any NWS survey text. However, what is absolutely true is that it damaged the hospital’s underpinning system to the point where the whole building was structurally compromised and had to be demolished. That is every bit as impressive, is the most intense damage to a high-rise building I have ever studied, and is undoubtedly indicative of EF5 intensity.In terms of Joplin, I have a question about its hospital damage. I've seen several sources said the entire hospital was moved by tornado about 4 inches but I've never seen NWS confirmed this. So did anyone know whether It was a rumor or fact because It's quite hard to believe for me that building of such magnitude can be moved by a tornado, especially the hospital was not in the absolute center of the tornado.
one of the place mentioned this:
F5 Tornadoes: The Chronology – Part III
In A Blink, Their World Vanished (cont’d) Franklin, Kansas – May 4, 2003 May, 2003 was the most active tornado month in recorded history with over 400 tornadoes touching down across the…
Where did you get that information because the NIST survey of the hospital doesn’t mention that either.
