... so I DVR'd Discovery's  Eye of the Storm  about the 2023 Rolling Fork MS Tornado. That was a terrible EF-4 intensity storm that killed 17 people. A number of those who perished were in a mobile home park. There was some unusual video of this tornado that was online right after, so I was looking forward to the documentary.  Unfortunately, the presentation was marred by the "no warning" canard. Above is a screen capture (they were showing the tornado approaching).  The most unusual video online immediately after the storm showed what appears to be two separate lights (autos with their lights on?) apparently rotating around the tornado. My guess is there were at least 100 feet above the ground. I was hoping they would analyze this unusual video and explain the source of the lights. They didn't, at least not to my satisfaction.  While I generally recommend the documentary, if you would like the true story with regard to the excellent forecasts and warning for Ro...

There is the likelihood of a damaging wind event over the High Plains after 4pm. Here's the color code: Yellow has a significant risk of wind gusts of 60 mph or stronger.  Red has an enhanced  risk.  Hatching = wind gusts of 75 mph or stronger.  There is the potential for power failures. Please follow me on Twitter @usweatherexpert  for updates this afternoon and evening. 

With the opening of Twisters today, we weather geeks will be out in force for the next few weeks.  "Doctor Rick" is trying to keep things under control.  😉  The first time I took Kathleen out on a date, she initially would not go out on a second because "all I did was talk about weather." Too bad Dr. Rick wasn't around in those days.  Until the excitement of Twisters  and the Progressive commercial have diminished, it is probably best to ignore us. 

I'm just sick at the news that the great Bob Newhart has passed away at the age of 94.  There's no way I can summarize his incredible life and career in this small space. While I've seen his comedy concerts a couple of times, I only spoke (briefly) with him once. That was in the parking lot of NBC Los Angeles the day after Johnny Carson passed away in 2005. I was setting up KNBC-TV's Storm Hawks for their weather operation. Bob had been asked to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno  and his limo pulled up right in front of me. Bob got out and we exchanged a few words about Carson's passing and he went in to the studio.  Johnny and Bob were an almost magical combination. If you have a few minutes, watch these hilarious interactions. Bob, thank you for a lifetime of laughs!!

"This is the Worst [ever] Event to Hit the City of Rome"                   -- Governor Kathy Hochul Tornado damage in Rome, NY. Photographer unknown, via Twitter and NWS. An EF-2 intensity tornado struck Rome, NY yesterday afternoon  without an advance warning from the National Weather Service. Based on my analysis, a warning should have been issued before it touched down in the city at 3:25pm EDT. Unfortunately, the warning was issued -- at best -- at 3:25 (zero lead-time) and may have been as late as 3:28pm ( negative three minutes lead-time). The National Weather Service's (NWS) published lead-time goal is 13 minutes.  In addition, a severe thunderstorm watch -- as opposed to a tornado watch -- was in effect.  At least four tornadoes actually occurred. As I have expressed on numerous occasions: if that NWS believes multiple tornadoes are going to occur, they should issue a tornado watch. A severe thunderstorm watch does not...

... this is what we like to see!!!

You knew global warming alarmists couldn't resist.  "Twisters" publicity shot According to an article in Nature ,  the new movie Twisters  comes out Friday and mostly "gets the science right" about tornadoes and climate change. I have not seen the movie yet (really looking forward to it) and so I am relying on the Nature article to clarify the science.  Tornado Alley Has Shifted to the Southeast Where the Threat is Higher Due to Mobile Homes and Other Factors. This is old news. How old? 49 Years!  In 1975 , Dr. Ted Fujita, along with co-authors Allen Pearson and David Ludlum, documented that tornado alley "shifts," primarily from the Great Plains to the Southeast. Their data went back to 1916. So far in 2024, the Great Plains have had a big tornado year with the Southeast much below normal. Phased Array Radar.  This is not used in real time. It is a research test product and have been in test mode at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) almost ...