Strong Spring Storm In The Winter?

Thats right it happened the past could of days. A strong storm wound up in the middle of the country throwing snow in the Northern Plains, while dishing out violent tornadic thunderstorms from the Heartland to the Midsouth. Typically, this type of storm occurs during late March and early April, as the season transitions from Winter to Spring. However, if the right mix of ingredients come together in the atmosphere, this type of event can happen anytime of the year.

The following image is a Doppler Radar display of the action from earlier this afternoon with a plethora of tornado watches:

Areas from Mississippi towards Ohio and Virginia are experiencing the worst of it right now as a powerful cold front that is a attached to parent low situated in the western Great Lakes. Additionally, the snowy side of the storm will move across the Great Lakes and into New England.

Now that the storms continue to traverse towards the east, areas that got hit hard yesterday can begin to clean up. Several cells produced strong, long tracking tornadoes, particularly in Missouri yesterday. The following is a product from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma, illustrating where severe weather occurred yesterday.

Red dots on this map correlates with tornadoes that were confirmed. Most notably, an EF-2 tornado touched down in Branson, Missouri. Not only were winds estimated to have reached 130mph, but the track was an astonishing 22 miles long, while the actual tornado was 400 yards wide.

The above picture was taken in Branson from The Weather Channel. Damage just like this could be seen all across the town of Branson.

We dodged a bullet here in the Brazos Valley, but this is a sign that springtime storms are beginning to gear up and we will be ready here at KAGS-HD to keep you ahead of the weather.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Lightning Safety

Lightning is one of the most fascinating phenomenon that catches our eyes. To many, its a free light show. These "light shows" peak in the summer, but can occur year round. Despite its beauty, lightning is extremely dangerous and is a potential killer. On average, 25 million lightning bolts strike across the United States every year. Hundreds are injured, and approximately 55 people are killed every year.

Lightning can travel at speeds of 140,000mph and heat up to 55,000°F. Additionally, lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the parent storm. Due to this spontaneous activity, you need to take any thunderstorm seriously whether it's severe or not.

If you year thunder, make sure to get indoors immediately because if you can hear it, it can strike. The National Weather Service (NWS) sends out the following message: "If Thunder Roars, Go Indoors."

Best place to be during a lightning event is in a sturdy building. An overhang on the golf course is not safe enough. If there is time, make sure to get back to the clubhouse. Additionally, if you are driving on the road, a car is safe as well, but don't leave your car until the storm clears.

While inside, stay away from elements that conduct electricity. Examples include devices that are plugged into outlets and even plumbing as lightning can travel though metal piping and water.

Keep these simple tips in mind when lightning strikes and you will be safe.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Flood Safety

Despite all of the attention gearing towards large hail, lightning, extreme wind, and even tornadoes, flooding happens to be one of the more dangerous elements that severe thunderstorms can produce. When you look at each type of severe weather independently, flooding happens to cause more fatalities than other related hazards.

One of the contributing factors is our under estimate of how powerful water can be. It only takes about 6 inches of moving water to knock over an average sized adult. Only 24 inches of rushing water can pick up a car and move it. Very small amounts of water can cause hazards that will generate mud slides, erode solid rock, shape shift rivers, and even destroy houses. Unfortunately, most deaths when it comes to flooding are those that are caught in their cars and drown.

However, there are some very simple tips you can use in the event of flooding or if flooding is forecasted to threaten your area. When meteorologists at that National Weather Service (NWS) foresee a large area to be affected by flooding, a FLOOD WATCH would be posted.

When flooding conditions are expected to occur or are imminent, a FLOOD or FLASH FLOOD WARNING will be posted for specific areas, namely certain roads, streams, rivers, or urban locations.

Best advice is to stay off the roads and especially away from those areas that are flooded. However, in the event that you are driving and you see a road covered with water, NEVER drive though it. You never know how deep that water is and as explained above, it does not take a lot of water to pick up your car. Make sure to steer away from a water covered road and take an alternate route to your destination.

The NWS says: "Turn Around, Dont Drown." Simple words of advice that can save your life. Additionally, if you are aware that an area is expecting to have flooding conditions, do not park your car near a stream, or low elevation (dip) where water can collect easily. Finally, seek higher ground in the event of flooding.

I hope these tips will help you the next time flooding conditions are expected for your area. Keep it safe and here at KAGS-HD we will always keep you ahead of the changing weather elements.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Tornado Safety

So far this week, we have been able to distinguish the difference between a watch, and a warning. Plus, the last blog discussed what types of criteria need to be reached in order for a thunderstorm to be considered severe. Now that we have the ground work for you, safety during these type of events are the most crucial. If proper preparation and action takes place, you will be able to save your life.

First thing is first, if there ever is a thunderstorm in your area, or you know there is one moving towards you, make sure to stay inside a sturdy shelter; such as an office building or a house. A way you can remember this is a catchy phrase from the National Weather Service: "When thunder roars go indoors." Plain and simple, you want to keep yourself away from the elements that might harm you.

However, if a severe thunderstorm had the capabilities of generating a tornado a TORNADO WARNING will be issued by your local National Weather Service for the specific locations in harms way. Even if your city is not noted within this warning, as long as your area is considered to be within the warned area make sure to take action immediately.

Best advice is to move to the basement of your house. Additionally, stay away from windows and any exterior walls where debris from the outside could fly into. While in the basement, huddle in a bathroom or closet with a blanket on your head for extra protection.

If you do not have a basement, an interior closet, hallway, or bathroom will be the best location to go. Furthermore, if you have an emergency kit available and that's easily accessible, grab it. Within this kit, you want to put in a first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, bottled water, and non-perishable food.

One of the worst places to be is in a mobile home. If you live in one, please take immediate shelter in a sturdy building when you are under a TORNADO WARNING.

The above advice is the best route when it comes to saving your life, but what if you are caught outside with no sturdy buildings in sight?

One thing I can tell you is....DO NOT wait in an underpass. If a tornado comes close enough, or rips though the underpass, you will be harmed, if not killed. Because the violent wind of the tornado compresses in an underpass, the winds will actually gain strength and blow harder. Kind of like a wind tunnel.

Research has shown that lying face down in a roadside ditch with your hands covering your head is the best tactic you can use in the event of being caught outside with no shelter if a tornado is rolling your way.

With all of these tips in mind. there are several myths yo should be aware of.

1) Moving to the northeast side of your house is the safest during a tornado. WRONG.
An interior room or closet is the safest. A tornado can come at you from any direction.

2) Opening windows in your home will equalize pressure in your home keeping you safe. WRONG.
Opening your windows will only allow high winds, rain, hail and even debris sail into your home causing even more danger.

Overall, keep it safe when a TORNADO WARNING is issued and I hope these tips have helped.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews.