Much like the Joplin tornado in 2011 and the Hoisington tornado in 2001, the tornado touched down and quickly turned from wisp to beast. AccuWeather vice president Mike Smith estimates that timely, effective warnings saved more than 200 lives.
Given the circumstances, a death toll of 24 from last Monday’s devastating tornado is remarkably low. It’s a testament to Oklahomans responding quickly and effectively as the danger mushroomed.
There’s a good chance of thunderstorms in the Wichita area today, forecasters say, and some of them could be strong.
Hail as large as nickels is possible with the strongest storms. Highs today will reach the low 70s, with east winds in the teens and gusting to the low 20s.
Rain may continue overnight, with lows dipping into the mid-60s. Showers and thunderstorms are possible throughout the Memorial Day weekend, with strong storms possible.
Monitor forecasts and conditions, particularly if outdoor activities are planned.
For more information on current conditions, go to our weather page.
Showers and thunderstorms enter the forecast for the Wichita metropolitan area this morning and – like relatives coming for a long holiday weekend – may stay longer than folks would like.
Highs today under partly sunny skies should reach the mid-70s, forecasters say. Winds will be light out of the north-northeast. Overnight lows will slide into the upper 50s with cloudy skies and winds shifting to the east.
Friday offers a chance of showers in the morning, forecasters say, with the sun peeking through at times and highs in the mid-70s. Winds are expected to shift to the south-southeast and gust at times to 20 miles an hour.
Showers and thunderstorms are possible through the holiday weekend, forecasters say, and some of them could be strong. Monitor forecasts and conditions closely.
For more information on current conditions, go to our weather page.
For only the fifth time in recorded history, there were three straight days of tornadoes rated EF-4 or higher this past weekend.
The first of those was in Kansas. The tornado that just missed Rozel in western Pawnee County Saturday night was rated an EF-4 with winds as high as 185 miles an hour. On Sunday, an EF-4 tornado tore through part of Shawnee, Okla., killing two people. And on Monday, of course, a massive EF-5 tornado struck Moore, Okla., killing 24.
Harold Brooks, a research meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, said Wednesday he found four other instances where F-4s or F-5s touched down three days in a row:
April 30, May 1-2, 1953
June 7-8-9, 1953
April 17-18-19, 1970
April 19-20-21, 1973
A pleasant spring day is in the offing for the Wichita area on Wednesday, forecasters say.
Highs are expected to reach the upper 70s under mostly sunny skies, with light winds out of the north. A chance of showers and thunderstorms arrives early Thursday morning, when lows slip into the mid-50s.
Thursday will see chances for rain continue, forecasters say, with mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-70s. Winds out of the east-northeast will crawl into the double digits.
Chances for rain and thunderstorms will continue through the holiday weekend, forecasters say.
For more information on current conditions, go to our weather page.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City is reporting that wind speed data for the large tornado that touched down in western Pawnee County Saturday night and came within a mile of Rozel indicates the tornado had speeds of up to 185 miles an hour.
That would elevate the tornado’s rating to an EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The tornado damaged five farms, including a house in which two people were sheltering. They escaped injury.
Confirmation of the tornado’s wind speeds and EF rating is pending.
A devastating tornado has torn through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore this afternoon. The destruction is reminiscent of what I saw in Greensburg and Joplin. Search and rescue efforts are under way.
