We have a tornado heading this way. Texas is getting its butt kicked at the moment by very severe weather (well, it is spring and that’s what happens ’round these parts).
But seriously—a tornado warning has just been issued. It’s west of here and moving in this direction. If its course stays constant, it should go north of me… if it stays constant.
No matter how it meanders, it should be around my position in less than 30 minutes.
The civil defense sirens are sounding as I type this. I’ve heard that all too often living in Texas for so many decades. It’s never a good sign (except on the first Wednesday of every month at noon when they test them, I mean).
Here’s hoping this doesn’t get any worse than it looks like it will. I think we’re in for a rough night.
[Update] Things could be getting worse. Radar indicates what could be another tornado south of downtown. That would mean I’m directly in its course (all of these storms are moving northeast). In fact, I’m watching the rotation via a downtown towercam. I’ll try to keep you posted.
Meanwhile, we’ve had hail larger than baseballs, near-hurricane force winds, and torrential floods—not to mention tornadoes—
My area—White Rock Lake—has just been mentioned as being in the direct path of this storm with an estimated arrival time of 6:58 pm. That’s ten minutes from now.
[Update 2] The sirens are going again, and new rotation is heading directly toward my location. A new tornado warning has been issued for areas around and east of me. >80 mph (>128 kph) winds have been measured in this storm (tornadic or otherwise).
The power is flickering on and off.
I’ve seen hail and heavy rain here.
Radar indicates many shear markers nearly on top of me and approaching rapidly.
[Update 3] The tornado warning for Dallas County has been extended.
From NOAA:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE MONITORING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING ONE OR MORE TORNADOES. STRONG ROTATION WAS LOCATED NEAR AND JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS….MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH ALONG I-30. THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MAY PRODUCE ANOTHER TORNADO AT ANY TIME!
Remember that I live only a minute or two from I-30, and I’m east of downtown Dallas.
At this point, however, it appears the worst part of it has moved east of me. Whatever threat exists in this storm now, I think it might be just east of my location.
My fingers and toes are crossed…
[Update 4] The National Weather Service has just stated there is confirmed damage at John West Rd. and Buckner Blvd. That intersection, poppets, is an easy walk from where I live…
They’re unsure if it was straight-line winds or a tornado.
[Update 5] There are more than ten shear markers on the radar. They all appear to be east of me, but I see they all seem to be converging on Rockwall—more specifically, the area of Rockwall where my brother lives.
I don’t think this evening’s excitement is over yet.
[Update 6] The danger for Rockwall has passed. The entire metroplex remains under a tornado watch until midnight.
However…
The whole storm complex is moving east. Toward East Texas. Where the family farm is located.
So I’m on the phone…
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