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09 Mar 10 - 02:26 PM (#2860303) Subject: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: JohnInKansas First big tornado this year in western Oklahoma (video) (Story at article) Not a big event, but it kicks off the season. Arkansas can't be too far behind. Watch for coming events. John |
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09 Mar 10 - 02:33 PM (#2860308) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: GUEST,leeneia Yes, spring is one the way. Recently I heard geese honking, a woodpecker pecking and a cardinal singing, all at the same time. Pretty nice for a little bungalow in the heart of the city! Then today I opened a cupboard and there was an ant in it. Winter's back is surely broken. It's time to look up and practice the song "Spring has now upwrapped the flowers." |
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09 Mar 10 - 02:38 PM (#2860315) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: PoppaGator Jeezum, I hope tornado season doesn't bring too many disaster stories. There's been so many catastrophes in the news the last few years that I'm half-persuaded to buy into the chicken-little predictions of apocalypse. Not entirely persuaded, mind you; just a little nervous... |
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09 Mar 10 - 02:44 PM (#2860320) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: Emma B Daffodils just coming into bud and a ladybird on my computer screen! |
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09 Mar 10 - 05:15 PM (#2860492) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: katlaughing Spring my arse! Yesterday, in the Banana Belt of Colorado, we woke to big fat flakes of snow. It sputtered all day and, of course, in the valley, it didn't stick. The night before it rained a lot. Snow in all elevations above the valley. I would imagine the boulder slide on I70 was partially caused by lots of rain/snow in Glenwood Canyon. Over twenty HUGE boulders, 17 miles of the only road through the canyon...no idea of how soon they will have it cleared. BUT, the birds down here definitely think spring's a'cummin.:-) |
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09 Mar 10 - 05:41 PM (#2860524) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: Bill D Today I went shopping and was too warm (65°+)with a turtle neck under my jacket...meantime there's still pile of snow in shady areas... Those tornados LOVE warmer weather...'memories of Andrews Air Force base getting whomped' |
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10 Mar 10 - 08:33 AM (#2860928) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: JohnInKansas Local forecasters are predicting that the jet stream will be pretty much over the normal "tornado alley," and with lots of moisture in the soil from the unusually wet prior couple of months conditions are "right" for more frequent tornadoes during the coming season. On the contrary side, the number thus far for the year is well below average. It could be that we could have fewer twisters, but with more major ones. (They're definitely hedging their bets.) The "first of the season" tornado in OK was a bit unusual as it was a fairly strong one and stayed on the ground much longer than is usual for early season ones, with a report of it being on the ground for about 45 minutes. I haven't heard an official report on a category, but suspect it might be cat 3 or 4. Fortunately it was on the ground in a mostly unpopulated area, with only five houses destroyed and about a dozen "de-roofed." Fifty or so miles east it might have found a lot more property (and people) to digest. John |
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10 Mar 10 - 07:42 PM (#2861468) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: GUEST,leeneia John, do you have one of those special radios that makes a warning sound and broadcasts the National Weather Service watches and warnings? I have one, and it gives me a certain peace of mind. I never have a TV or radio on, so it is the only way I get warnings. Well, they do blow sirens when a tornado is actually sighted. But what if I were sleeping and didn't hear them? In my opinion, the very existence of tornados is contrary to all science and logic. A huge column of vacuum with winds whirling around it which advances across country? Give me a break! I read a book once about the tornado which struck Moore OK (a suburb of OK City) in 1995. It was simply incredible. Another thing I wont forget: after the tornado struck, there was devastation everywhere. Ruined homes, streets impassable, no electricity, no water, people lost and terrified. The minister of a big Baptist church arranged for a giant searchlight and he had it pointed at the cross on the church. That told everyone, "Come here for help." And everyone did. I found that very moving. |
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10 Mar 10 - 08:26 PM (#2861494) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: Bill D On May 25 of 1955, I was a sophomore in HS in Wichita, Kansas, playing clarinet in the band for the Wichita North HS graduation. When the festivities were over about 10:30PM or so, we left the downtown auditorium to the worst rainstorm I can ever remember. Somehow, we all struggled home and went to bed. The next morning the news was full of the story of the worst tornado ever to hit Kansas, which destroyed the town of Udall, about 25-30 miles to the southeast of us. The warning systems were pretty primitive then, relying on teletype and sirens...etc. I learned to take ANY tornado warning pretty seriously after that. |
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11 Mar 10 - 09:37 AM (#2861807) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: GUEST,leeneia I was surprised to see in the paper that by this time of year there usually have been 72-100 tornados in the U.S. I wouldn't have thought there would be that many. (Tornados are rare, fortunately.) John, they quoted an expert who says that the smaller number tells us nothing about the frequency or severity of tornados to come. |
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11 Mar 10 - 01:07 PM (#2861942) Subject: RE: BS: Springtime comes to Oklahoma 2010 From: Stilly River Sage When you have a large thunderstorm passing through an area and it's the type that spawns tornadoes, you can end up with a whole bunch of them dropping down from the clouds (there is also evidence of them reaching up, but I'm not sure how that works). It isn't always just one big twister in one big storm. The numbers can add up quickly that way. I was driving home from work one evening and from my position (nearly stopped on the freeway, like the rest of the amazed and dumbfounded drivers) I could see three tornadoes. One to the north, one to the north east, and one to the southeast from where I was. I was extremely glad to be traveling west as they traveled east. SRS |