[Sam Sagnella]

I just back from one of my best friends' graduation ceremony, but my buddy Joe who lives in Miami, OK (pronounced my-AM-uh) just called, and he witnessed two tornadoes earlier. One of those was the one that destroyed Picher, OK before crossing into MO.

This is not his pic, but one submitted to KTUL-TV of the same tornado.


Apparently, most of the town is gone.

Quote

"The ambulances here in Miami are running back and forth as fast as they can," Osburn said. "You can't see any homes anywhere, no street signs left and trees torn out of the ground."

http://www.ktul.com/...508/518665.html

[Boyd Webb]

BeauDodson, on May 10 2008, 08:20 PM, said:

It is interesting how far behind MEG was on the Stuttgart tornado. The local media was all over it about 15 minutes ago. Now at 8:15 this comes out
MEG issues Tornado Warning for Phillips [AR] and Coahoma [MS] till 9:15 PM CDT ...* AT 818 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A TORNADO 23 MILES WEST OF WATKINS CORNER...OR NEAR STUTTGART...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.\

I believe the earlier reports would have been under the Little Rock, NWS Office - not seeing anything in their statements about the city. This city must be on the border of both offices.

Scrolling back through the statements I don't see that city mentioned in updates on the tornado warning. It appears that the local media did not share the information or the storm chaser didn't - or both? Unsure. Just been watching the updates and noted a long time ago that the media called for a tornado emergency for Stuttgart.

Going over the information one more time - defin do not see anything from Little Rock or MEG on that city per their updated warning texts. Interesting the delay of information. Would be curious what time the chaser or media called that information in - or if there was that much delay (doubtful) in getting the information out.

I believe this in the Little Rock CWA, not Memphis.

[wxmann_91]

what's VTI?

[BeauDodson]

JoMo, on May 10 2008, 08:20 PM, said:

Yeah, watch has been shaved off where Carthage is.

Correct but I am not talking about that area. I am talking about the rest of the tornado watch in South Missouri. It is being shaved as the storms move out.

[BeauDodson]

Searcy [White Co, AR] trained spotter reports TSTM WND DMG at 08:07 PM CDT -- trees down on smith road off of highway 16. also trees down near barry hill park.

Stuttgart [Arkansas Co, AR] law enforcement reports TORNADO at 08:07 PM CDT -- elderly woman trapped in her residence. numerous trees down across stuttgart.

[psualum95]

Scale only goes from 0-10. The mets on WMC-TV are really talking this one up and comparing it to the Earl, AR tornado

[wxbuff]

Boyd Webb, on May 10 2008, 09:25 PM, said:

I believe this in the Little Rock CWA, not Memphis.

Viper Tornado Index.

A scale of 1 - 10, the higher the number, the better chance of a tornado within that storm.

[wxmann_91]

wxbuff, on May 10 2008, 06:26 PM, said:

Viper Tornado Index.

A scale of 1 - 10, the higher the number, the better chance of a tornado within that storm.

Ah, ic. Thanks.

[BeauDodson]

Boyd Webb, on May 10 2008, 08:25 PM, said:

I believe this in the Little Rock CWA, not Memphis.

That is correct - it borders the Little Rock Office. It would have been Little Rock's warning. I belive it was the Little Rock television station that had the information on air.

[IndianaWeatherOnline]

The VTI/BTI is a Baron Product

[Calderon]

Boyd Webb, on May 10 2008, 09:25 PM, said:

I believe this in the Little Rock CWA, not Memphis.

Your correct, so it was traversing CWAs. Which could possibly explain the space in time between reports/statements and warnings. These 2 office are very busy, so gaps can be expected in chaos.

[Pilot_Guy]

wxmann_91, on May 10 2008, 08:25 PM, said:

what's VTI?

Its BTI (Baron Tornado Index) But they renamed it Viper Tornado Index. Scale of 1-10 on if a tornado is there, uses numerous products, and seems to be quite effective. First Time this was used was back on Super Tuesday, and anything about 7 was confirmed to be on the ground. Anything above 8 was usaully a Strong-Violent Tornado. 10.0? Well, Thats never happended before.

[balwal78]

Picher, OK

Several people have been reported killed in Picher after at least five tornadoes reportedly touched down Saturday in eastern Oklahoma, officials said.
The south end of the city has been completely destroyed.

Medical examiners are on their way to the area, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol dispatcher said. Troopers are helping local authorities with search and rescue operations in the area.

News article

This is probably the same tornado that went on to do damage at Neosho, Cambry, etc.

[janetjanet998]

Sam Sagnella, on May 10 2008, 08:24 PM, said:

I just back from one of my best friends' graduation ceremony, but my buddy Joe who lives in Miami, OK (pronounced my-AM-uh) just called, and he witnessed two tornadoes earlier. One of those was the one that destroyed Picher, OK before crossing into MO.

This is not his pic, but one submitted to KTUL-TV of the same tornado.


Apparently, most of the town is gone.


http://www.ktul.com/...508/518665.html

not good population 1600

[Dan1195]

Well if the reports are mentioned trees down in Stuttgart, maybe we can hope it was not a violent tornado.

[psualum95]

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
827 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008


ARC071-115-110145-
/O.CON.KLZK.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080511T0145Z/
POPE AR-JOHNSON AR-
827 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN JOHNSON AND WEST CENTRAL POPE COUNTIES...

AT 824 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS INDICATED. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3
MILES NORTH OF LAMAR...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LUTHERVILLE AND DOVER.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ARKANSAS.

[brettjrob]

Currently on SE side of Stuttgart... can confirm very severe and widespread damage, unfortunately... was rain-wrapped as it went thru as we were 2-3 miles behind it and couldn't see a thing.

[wxmann_91]

balwal78, on May 10 2008, 06:29 PM, said:

Picher, OK

Several people have been reported killed in Picher after at least five tornadoes reportedly touched down Saturday in eastern Oklahoma, officials said.
The south end of the city has been completely destroyed.

Medical examiners are on their way to the area, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol dispatcher said. Troopers are helping local authorities with search and rescue operations in the area.

News article

This is probably the same tornado that went on to do damage at Neosho, Cambry, etc.

Freaking. ****.

[Calderon]

Dan1195, on May 10 2008, 09:30 PM, said:

Well if the reports are mentioned trees down in Stuttgart, maybe we can hope it was not a violent tornado.

From what I got out of it, it missed the center of the city, but clipped the south side. Of course, damage reports are just coming in, so time will tell. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

[Sam Sagnella]

brettjrob, on May 10 2008, 08:31 PM, said:

Currently on SE side of Stuttgart... can confirm very severe and widespread damage, unfortunately... was rain-wrapped as it went thru as we were 2-3 miles behind it and couldn't see a thing.

Jesus, Brett -- stay safe out there; it's getting dark....!