No Stopping The Storms

Last night was the worst of the spring storms yet. We stood outside (briefly) and watched through the lightning flashes as a tornado developed to our West. We knew the chances of getting a direct hit were remote. There’s a lake between us and the funnel; it would most likely move North to get around the lake, and that’s exactly what it did. That doesn’t mean we were spared from the high winds or power outages. At 6:00 AM EDT this morning, roughly 80,000 people around the state were still without power.

This is the third time in the past two and a half weeks that residents of the Mid- and SouthWest have heard emergency sirens going off and heeded the call to take shelter. Dozens of tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Wednesday in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Mississippi. So far, three deaths have been attributed to the storm system.

Over 30 million people from Texas to Ohio were still at risk Thursday of powerful tornadoes and major flooding, which is only expected to worsen over the coming days as some parts of the country receive upwards of 15 inches of rain.

The National Weather Service said in a forecast, “This is a catastrophic, potentially historic heavy rainfall and flash flood event.”

Note: We are still at the beginning of the storm season. The storms are fueled by an almost constant rotation in wind patterns as air temperatures go from the mid-40s on one day to the low 80s the next. Pull in the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico that is normal for this time of year, and one has all the pieces necessary for storms to wreak havoc all across the nation.

Mind you, this storm system is not done yet. As it moves eastward, the potential for strong storms, damaging winds, and flash flooding still exists. Daytime warming could still cause tornadoes to sprout in the late afternoon and evening. Those in its path are advised to stay alert and prepare for the potential loss of power.

State of emergencies were declared in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee, with officials urging residents to prepare for potentially historic flash flooding and tornadoes by packing a go-bag and staying updated on the weather in their areas.

Part of the challenge in dealing with storms of this nature is that they’re hitting at a time of the year when more gentle afternoon rains are the norm. They’re also creating chaos in places that normally don’t have to worry much about tornadoes, especially this early in April. Few people are ready, and too many people scoff at the forecasts.

Additional rounds of heavy rain were expected in parts of Texas, the lower Mississippi Valley, and the Ohio Valley from midweek through Saturday. Forecasters warned that they could track over the same areas repeatedly, producing dangerous flash floods capable of sweeping cars away. These are not the normal spring showers that bring May flowers.

Forecasters warn that climate change is largely responsible for a continued pattern of unsettled air patterns across the Midwest. Almost as soon as one storm system clears out, another develops, bringing devastation to the same areas that the last storm demolished. Once a system gathers sufficient energy for the first tornado, not much is likely to stop it from spreading storms all the way to the East coast.

In case you haven’t done so already, now would be a good time to check the batteries in flashlights, set matches or a lighter near candles, and charge any auxiliary power banks one might have. The National Weather Service pushes out warnings to most cell phone providers, but when storms hit at night, people are less likely to notice as they often turn down the volume on their phones. Keep hallways clear and make sure that everyone knows where to go in the event of strong winds or a tornado. Remember, 80 mph straight winds can do as much damage as an EF2 tornado.

Now is not the time to be taking any unnecessary risks. Please heed all weather alerts and warnings. Even a ‘small’ storm can produce devastating results. Stay safe.