Tornadoes

[Dailey Enterprizes]

I know there's a "What's the Weather Like Where You Live?" thread, but we don't get too many tornadoes where I live and besides this topic is about Tornadoes in general.

 

I've been obsessed with tornadoes ever since the late 1990's when I saw the movie Twister for the first time. I was in elementary school, but I was really fascinated by them and I used to tape all the storm chaser specials on the Discovery Channel along with the coaster shows they would occasionally put on (I definitely was a nerd growing up, I'm still a nerd for the most part). I personally was never affected by a tornado, but I came very close on 3 different occasions.

 

Late May in 1998, our house was hit dead on by a micro-burst which isn't a tornado, but it's a downward motion of air that is the result of the jet stream colliding with the storm clouds and being forced downward towards the earth surface. Anyway we had some roof damage and we lost 3 trees.

 

The second experience was another micro-burst in 1999 in early June which was almost a year after the first micro-burst. We lost another tree and one of the huge branches from the maple tree in our backyard fell and destroyed the next door neighbor's shed.

 

The third was in 2000 when I was camping at the Seven Ranges campground in Kensington, Ohio and one day there was a tornado warning for our area and it was kind of scary because we only had tents and the only structure nearby was a latrine and the cafeteria was about a mile away, so we really couldn't go anywhere for shelter. There was in fact a funnel cloud that was forming right above where we were, but thankfully it didn't touch down near us. I would later learn from my parents that western PA was devastated by tornadoes that day.

 

While I wasn't present during this next example I was kind of devastated by it's impact. Late Spring in 2001, I was umpiring a little league game and I remember seing an abundance of lightning to our south (we were north of pittsburgh), so the other umpire and I called the game. When I got home the news said that Kennywood was hit by a tornado and that The Whip roof collapsed. That was the last time I remember there being a tornado in the immediate area of Pittsburgh.

 

Anyway, I'm still obsessed with tornadoes, but not the destruction. Does anyone have any stories or similar experiences with tornadoes?

 

I took this video last summer at our cottage on Canadohta Lake. I thought it was a tornado, but I guess it wasn't.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fCPGAzbuaE

[ebl]

^ You have sort of a "twisted" interest. For me, tornadoes just blow.

 

Where I live, earthquakes are where it's shakin'!

 

Eric

[odene497]

I used to Loooove tornadoes, but was also really afraid of them. Then I got pretty close to one out in the middle of nowhere in Michigan, and it was really cool and not all that intimidating from where we were.

 

 

 

 

-Nick

[spaceace12]

I have never been close to one, but I want to go on one of those tornado chasing tours or even better, ride with the group from the tv show "Storm Chasers". That TIV looks fun to ride in, plus you can go through up to a ef-2 or 3 tornado in that if it is anchored in, or so they say.

Isn't aerodynamic by any means, but you don't want aerodynamic for this, you want heavy.

[christianscoasters]

Living in the heart of Tornado Alley, you would think I've been through tornadoes. Eh, I haven't. I've been through some warnings though, and they are scary enough. I haven't been in a warning for years, but I hope I don't have to anytime soon. And yes, tornadoes interest me a lot. Just not the destruction!

 

I've always had the mental vision of my family going into the basement for a tornado, and when we finally go up, nothing is there

[sillytrixx]

In Minnesota, we can get tornadoes a lot during the spring and summer months. It isn't uncommon to have your whole night of TV watching ruined because of severe weather watches and warnings.

 

I remember a couple years back in sixth grade (maybe seventh grade, I'm not sure) on mother's day, the northwestern suburbs of the Twin Cities (where I live) almost got hit by a tornado. It was pretty freaky, because the sky turned really green and it was really severe weather.

 

And then 10 years ago, 14 tornadoes hit southern and central Minnesota in one storm.

I don't remember much about the storm (I was only five), but I did find a website with some good information:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/?n=1998mar29

 

Personally, though, tornadoes freak me out. I hate severe weather, and pretty much follow one of my family members around during the duration of a storm.

[spaceace12]

There is 3 things I want to see in person. A Tornado, a blizzard, and size 1 or 2 hurricane. The closest I been to a tornado is there was a rotating cloud in the lot right next to where I work. It was pretty cool to see, the firefighters right next door was watching it too. Then I had to come inside because a tornado warning was issued for my county and we had to do a weather cut in.

[DBru]

We don't get them often, but I'm terrified of tornado's. Didn't you all see the movie "Twister"?

[spaceace12]

Didn't you all see the movie "Twister"?

 

Why do you think I want to chase them one time.

[ebl]

The thing about tornadoes is that you can tell when they're coming. Certain weather conditions warrant their formation and you get some warning in most cases.

 

Out here in Earthquake Country, they just show up uninvited and without any indication.

 

Eric

[Carnage]

There is 3 things I want to see in person. A Tornado, a blizzard, and size 1 or 2 hurricane.

 

What do you mean you want to see a blizzard??

 

You live in Indiana, so you've seen snow. And surely you've experienced a few blizzards every year.

 

A blizzard isn't some massive tornado of snow or anything. It's just hard snow, and lots of it.

[ernierocker]

I've always been fascinated by tornadoes for some reason.

 

A few years ago, one touched down briefly in my apartment complex. I watched from outside my window as debris (mainly leaves and sticks) started to whiz past my window. The wind kept picking up more and more, and eventually I hightailed it to the bathroom. After it settled down, I went outside and I could see the top of the funnel cloud but the rest of it was blocked by trees and a hill. The tornado ended up only damaging a few cars and one apartment complex from uprooted trees.

 

Did anyone see the basketball game at the Georgia Dome when the tornado hit last month? That was messed up!

[spaceace12]

There is 3 things I want to see in person. A Tornado, a blizzard, and size 1 or 2 hurricane.

 

What do you mean you want to see a blizzard??

 

You live in Indiana, so you've seen snow. And surely you've experienced a few blizzards every year.

 

A blizzard isn't some massive tornado of snow or anything. It's just hard snow, and lots of it.

 

Actually, not since th 90's. The most we had recently is 6 inches at a time. And when I say blizzard, I am talking snow like they have in Ohio recently, 18 plus inches. I think this last winter, we got a total of 10 inches, but it only lasted two days max on each snow. I know someone moving to Wisconsin, when they were house hunting, they were looking at a house that had 4 feet of snow in front of it. To me that would be fun.

[scooterdoug]

^^^Ugh, I hate earthquakes. I used to think they were cool until the Northridge earthquake in '94. That was a 6.8, and I lived about 7 miles from the epicenter. I tell you, I was convinced that the San Andreas had split wide open! Ever since then, I've just hated them.

Back on topic, I am also fascinated by tornadoes. However, I have no desire to see one up close

-Doug

[Carnage]

Actually, not since th 90's. The most we had recently is 6 inches at a time. And when I say blizzard, I am talking snow like they have in Ohio recently, 18 plus inches. I think this last winter, we got a total of 10 inches, but it only lasted two days max on each snow. I know someone moving to Wisconsin, when they were house hunting, they were looking at a house that had 4 feet of snow in front of it. To me that would be fun.

 

I wouldn't exactly call that fun. This year we pretty much had three months straight of subzero temps. And were getting pounded once every week by massive snow storms. One time it didn't stop snowing for over two days.

 

These storms slow driving down to a crawl. I had a few commutes home from work that took me an hour to go just a couple miles. Plus water damage was a serious risk for most of the winter because of the build up of snow. And still is as all the snow starts to melt, an flooding starts.

 

Plus snow means bad driving conditions, and a much higher risk of accidents. I had to spend $300 the other day to repair my exhaust system which was damaged getting my car out of deep snow.

 

Snow like we had this past winter will get on your nerves very quickly.

 

But hey, if you consider if fun to dig your car out of a two foot wide snow wall left by the snow plow, well whatever floats your boat.

[sfotkid]

Well, considering Im under a Tornado watch right now, Im have my fair share of 'em.

[Dailey Enterprizes]

By the way, tornadoes and lightning kind of go hand and hand, so I also got this video of a pretty intense thunderstorm on Canadohta Lake if you like lightning!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Hb03NS9Wg

[coasterdude5]

I've had a couple close calls but nothing too serious. When we built an addition onto our house a few years back we built an above-ground storm shelter. As long as I'm home when they hit I'm alright.

[DBru]

How does it work if it's above ground?

[ernierocker]

I believe the room is made out of reinforced concrete. It is usually just a closet where the walls are built to withstand extreme winds and prevent debris from penetrating. These are being built a lot in tornado alley.

[spaceace12]

I would just rather have a basement. Finish them out and have some extra livign area.

[coaster05]

Actually, not since th 90's. The most we had recently is 6 inches at a time. And when I say blizzard, I am talking snow like they have in Ohio recently, 18 plus inches. I think this last winter, we got a total of 10 inches, but it only lasted two days max on each snow. I know someone moving to Wisconsin, when they were house hunting, they were looking at a house that had 4 feet of snow in front of it. To me that would be fun.

 

I wouldn't exactly call that fun. This year we pretty much had three months straight of subzero temps. And were getting pounded once every week by massive snow storms. One time it didn't stop snowing for over two days.

 

These storms slow driving down to a crawl. I had a few commutes home from work that took me an hour to go just a couple miles. Plus water damage was a serious risk for most of the winter because of the build up of snow. And still is as all the snow starts to melt, an flooding starts.

 

Plus snow means bad driving conditions, and a much higher risk of accidents. I had to spend $300 the other day to repair my exhaust system which was damaged getting my car out of deep snow.

 

Snow like we had this past winter will get on your nerves very quickly.

 

But hey, if you consider if fun to dig your car out of a two foot wide snow wall left by the snow plow, well whatever floats your boat.

 

I agree with Carnage here. Blizzards are no where close to fun. I have lived through several and there is nothing great about them. Listing it as one of your 3 things you want to see seems inconsiderate to people who have lived through those things.

[cfc]

^I would second that in terms of hurricanes. Going through Hurricane Isabel a few years ago, losing power for six days, and watching trees crush neighbors' houses was not my idea of a good time.

[spaceace12]

When I say things like this, I also want to remind everyone why I like to do these things once. I work in TV news, when severe weather happens, it gets my blood pumping. I live for breaking news.

[Jew]

^I still don't understand the logic in that. So because you work in T.V. news, you want to experience first hand the misery of those people who have to live through those awful situations? There's lots of other types of breaking news that don't involve thousands of people suffering while they happen...