We went past the 22,000,000 mark yesterday! Thank you so much!

Yet another NWS failure. See yesterday's post about the Joplin Tornado.  It wouldn't surprise me if litigation results from all of this. 

In an unspeakable tragedy, the government's warning system failed in Joplin, MO  the evening of May 22, 2011 -- 15 years ago today.  The Result? 161 Perished. Ruskin Heights Tornado about the time it was damaging my future bride's home.   The tornadohad a 71-mile path and was F-5 intensity. Photo from Wikipedia. May 20, 1957, was the date of the Ruskin Heights Tornado and the date the federal government (finally) got into the tornado warning business. Those warnings have saved tens of thousands of lives. On that Monday evening, the Weather Bureau's tornado warning was accurate and their tornado watch -- which had been issued hours earlier -- was right on the money.*  Over time, both the science (our knowledge of how tornadoes function and how best to warn of them) and the technology (radar, weather satellites, then Doppler radar) helped weather science cut the tornado death rate (deaths per million population) by a stunning 95% . Then, shockingly, it all collaps...

The National Weather Service today forecast a "below average" hurricane season. Yet, we are seeing headlines like this: There is no reason to "prepare now" for a hurricane. Hurricane season doesn't even start until June 1.  I hate clickbait relating to weather. 

Looks like a wet period in the South with the holiday weekend coming up.  Normally, I would say "that is a shame" but we need so much rain in some many of these areas that we should probably thankful for the rain regardless of when it arrives. 

....My family was closely following the weather . A supercell thunderstorm had moved near Emporia, Kansas -- where it produced large hail -- on its way toward Williamsburg and Ottawa where it produced an F-5 intensity tornado that began killing people at Ottawa, moved through densely populated south Kansas City, and then lifted near the suburb of Raytown, MO. Forty-four people were killed and as many as 500 were injured.  Charles LeMaster via The Ottawa Herald. Used with permission.  This tornado was historic because it was the first time the federal government's Weather Bureau issued what we could call today a "tornado warning." Those warnings have saved lives! The number is likely in the tens of thousands.  Here's another story, just published today , of how a tornado warning and a tornado safe room allowed a young woman to graduate from high school this week.  Members of the AccuWeather team on a storm warning client "field trip" It was this storm, known...