1fsw. Deadly 2011 and 2013 Tornado SeasonsTornado Alley has been hit
by some particularly deadly events in recent years, with particularly
notable tornadoes in 2011 and 2013. These events not only illustrated
the destructive potential of tornadoes but also highlighted the
effectiveness with which forecasters can warn the public about their
imminent formation and provide advice on what lifesaving measures should
be taken.2011 Tornado SeasonThe 2011 tornado season was remarkably
deadly, with 553 fatalities—more than seven times the average over the
30-year period. Many of the deaths occurred from two particularly deadly
outbreaks.Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AlabamaApril 2011 had more
tornadoes than any other month in recorded U.S. history. The deadliest
of these was an EF-4 that hit the cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham,
Alabama (Figure 11-6-1) on the 27th. With winds that peaked at 306 km/hr
(190 mph) and a width of 2.4 km (1.5 mi), the tornado cut a path of 129
km (80 mi), killed at least 71 people, and injured at least another
1000. Over the entire region on the 27th alone there were 317
fatalities, making it the worst single day for tornado fatalities since
1925.Joplin, MissouriLess than a month after the deadly Alabama
tornadoes, a supercell generated an EF-5 tornado that hit the heavily
populated, southern part of Joplin, Missouri, during the afternoon of
May 22 (Figure 11-6-2). The tornado, which had a maximum diameter of 1.2
km (0.75 mi), cut a nearly 10 km (6 mi) path through the town with
maximum winds exceeding 320 km/hr (200 mph), About 171 people died in
Joplin, making the tornado the deadliest during the modern period of
record keeping that began in 1950. The Joplin tornado ranks as the
seventh deadliest in U.S. history.2013 Tornado SeasonThough 2013 did not
have nearly the number of tornadoes as did 2011, the month of May 2013
did have two very deadly tornadoes—both in Oklahoma and only days
apart.Newcastle–Moore, OklahomaAt 2:56 P.M. on May 20 an EF-5 tornado
touched down south of Oklahoma City in the town of Newcastle. The
tornado cut a path to the east-northeast, staying on the ground about 40
minutes and cutting a swath as much as 2,1 km (1.3 mi) wide and 27 km
(17 mi) long. The storm killed 25 people and injured 377 others. The
winds, peaking at 340 km/hr [210 mph), destroyed 1150 homes and brought
about some $2 billion in damages. The Newcastle–Moore tornado was the
deadliest since the 2011 Joplin tornado, but it was not the last to hit
Oklahoma that month—another powerful and deadly twister hit the town of
El Reno 11 days later.El Reno, OklahomaIt took only 11 days for a second
EF-5 tornado to hit Oklahoma, the shortest time span in recorded
history. The storm hit the town of El Reno on May 31. Although the death
toll at El Reno was slightly less than that of the Moore tornado—19
fatalities—the storm was noteworthy for setting a record for the widest
path for an American tornado, measuring 4.2 km (2.6 mi) at its widest
(Figure 11-6-3).Touching west of Oklahoma City at 6:03 P.M., the tornado
swept a 25.7 km (16 mi) path over the next 40 minutes. The storm
produced 475 km/hr (295 mph) winds at its maximum. It was also
noteworthy in that prominent storm chasers Tim Samaras, Carl Young, and
Samaras’s son, Paul, were killed while making a scientific
reconnaissance of the tornado. Given the severity and similarities of
the two events, the Newcastle–Moore and El Reno tornadoes provoked
intense discussions about the reevaluation of recommended safety
procedures. This issue is discussed in Box 11-7, Focus on the
Environment and Societal Impacts: Life and Death Decisions with the
Threat of Tornadoes.The Role of National Weather Service AlertsAs
horrific as the death and injury statistics were for these tornadoes,
they almost certainly would have been far worse without the alerts given
by the National Weather Service. When a roof was partially blown off
one of the terminals at Lambert International in St. Louis on April 22,
2011, there were no fatalities, because much of the airport had already
been evacuated following a tornado warning. Similarly, the death toll
relative to the degree of destruction during the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes
was nothing short of remarkable.The National Weather Service played a
lifesaving role for all of these outbreaks, providing residents time to
take cover prior to being hit by the tornadoes. For example, a tornado
warning was issued for Joplin, Missouri, at 5:17 P.M. local time by the
forecast office in Springfield. The first report of tornadoes touching
ground occurred at 5:41 P.M. A tornado watch had also been issued some 4
hours prior to the tornado, giving the public additional advanced
safety information.FIGURE 11-6-1 Alabama Tornado Destruction. Dozens of
homes fay in ruin in Pratt City, near Birmingham, Alabama, following a
devastating April 28, 2011, tornado....FIGURE 11-6-2 Joplin, Missouri
Tornado Destruction on May 24, 2011....FIGURE 11-6-3 Oklahoma Tornado
Destruction. Satellite image showing the swath of the El Reno
tornado....How do the four tornadoes described here compare in terms of
damage and lives lost? Get solution
2fsw. Deadly 2011 and 2013 Tornado SeasonsTornado Alley has been hit by some particularly deadly events in recent years, with particularly notable tornadoes in 2011 and 2013. These events not only illustrated the destructive potential of tornadoes but also highlighted the effectiveness with which forecasters can warn the public about their imminent formation and provide advice on what lifesaving measures should be taken.2011 Tornado SeasonThe 2011 tornado season was remarkably deadly, with 553 fatalities—more than seven times the average over the 30-year period. Many of the deaths occurred from two particularly deadly outbreaks.Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AlabamaApril 2011 had more tornadoes than any other month in recorded U.S. history. The deadliest of these was an EF-4 that hit the cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama (Figure 11-6-1) on the 27th. With winds that peaked at 306 km/hr (190 mph) and a width of 2.4 km (1.5 mi), the tornado cut a path of 129 km (80 mi), killed at least 71 people, and injured at least another 1000. Over the entire region on the 27th alone there were 317 fatalities, making it the worst single day for tornado fatalities since 1925.Joplin, MissouriLess than a month after the deadly Alabama tornadoes, a supercell generated an EF-5 tornado that hit the heavily populated, southern part of Joplin, Missouri, during the afternoon of May 22 (Figure 11-6-2). The tornado, which had a maximum diameter of 1.2 km (0.75 mi), cut a nearly 10 km (6 mi) path through the town with maximum winds exceeding 320 km/hr (200 mph), About 171 people died in Joplin, making the tornado the deadliest during the modern period of record keeping that began in 1950. The Joplin tornado ranks as the seventh deadliest in U.S. history.2013 Tornado SeasonThough 2013 did not have nearly the number of tornadoes as did 2011, the month of May 2013 did have two very deadly tornadoes—both in Oklahoma and only days apart.Newcastle–Moore, OklahomaAt 2:56 P.M. on May 20 an EF-5 tornado touched down south of Oklahoma City in the town of Newcastle. The tornado cut a path to the east-northeast, staying on the ground about 40 minutes and cutting a swath as much as 2,1 km (1.3 mi) wide and 27 km (17 mi) long. The storm killed 25 people and injured 377 others. The winds, peaking at 340 km/hr [210 mph), destroyed 1150 homes and brought about some $2 billion in damages. The Newcastle–Moore tornado was the deadliest since the 2011 Joplin tornado, but it was not the last to hit Oklahoma that month—another powerful and deadly twister hit the town of El Reno 11 days later.El Reno, OklahomaIt took only 11 days for a second EF-5 tornado to hit Oklahoma, the shortest time span in recorded history. The storm hit the town of El Reno on May 31. Although the death toll at El Reno was slightly less than that of the Moore tornado—19 fatalities—the storm was noteworthy for setting a record for the widest path for an American tornado, measuring 4.2 km (2.6 mi) at its widest (Figure 11-6-3).Touching west of Oklahoma City at 6:03 P.M., the tornado swept a 25.7 km (16 mi) path over the next 40 minutes. The storm produced 475 km/hr (295 mph) winds at its maximum. It was also noteworthy in that prominent storm chasers Tim Samaras, Carl Young, and Samaras’s son, Paul, were killed while making a scientific reconnaissance of the tornado. Given the severity and similarities of the two events, the Newcastle–Moore and El Reno tornadoes provoked intense discussions about the reevaluation of recommended safety procedures. This issue is discussed in Box 11-7, Focus on the Environment and Societal Impacts: Life and Death Decisions with the Threat of Tornadoes.The Role of National Weather Service AlertsAs horrific as the death and injury statistics were for these tornadoes, they almost certainly would have been far worse without the alerts given by the National Weather Service. When a roof was partially blown off one of the terminals at Lambert International in St. Louis on April 22, 2011, there were no fatalities, because much of the airport had already been evacuated following a tornado warning. Similarly, the death toll relative to the degree of destruction during the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes was nothing short of remarkable.The National Weather Service played a lifesaving role for all of these outbreaks, providing residents time to take cover prior to being hit by the tornadoes. For example, a tornado warning was issued for Joplin, Missouri, at 5:17 P.M. local time by the forecast office in Springfield. The first report of tornadoes touching ground occurred at 5:41 P.M. A tornado watch had also been issued some 4 hours prior to the tornado, giving the public additional advanced safety information.FIGURE 11-6-1 Alabama Tornado Destruction. Dozens of homes fay in ruin in Pratt City, near Birmingham, Alabama, following a devastating April 28, 2011, tornado....FIGURE 11-6-2 Joplin, Missouri Tornado Destruction on May 24, 2011....FIGURE 11-6-3 Oklahoma Tornado Destruction. Satellite image showing the swath of the El Reno tornado....Given the size and strength of the tornadoes, how would the outcome have been different had no warnings or other advisories been issued? Get solution
2fsw. Deadly 2011 and 2013 Tornado SeasonsTornado Alley has been hit by some particularly deadly events in recent years, with particularly notable tornadoes in 2011 and 2013. These events not only illustrated the destructive potential of tornadoes but also highlighted the effectiveness with which forecasters can warn the public about their imminent formation and provide advice on what lifesaving measures should be taken.2011 Tornado SeasonThe 2011 tornado season was remarkably deadly, with 553 fatalities—more than seven times the average over the 30-year period. Many of the deaths occurred from two particularly deadly outbreaks.Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AlabamaApril 2011 had more tornadoes than any other month in recorded U.S. history. The deadliest of these was an EF-4 that hit the cities of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama (Figure 11-6-1) on the 27th. With winds that peaked at 306 km/hr (190 mph) and a width of 2.4 km (1.5 mi), the tornado cut a path of 129 km (80 mi), killed at least 71 people, and injured at least another 1000. Over the entire region on the 27th alone there were 317 fatalities, making it the worst single day for tornado fatalities since 1925.Joplin, MissouriLess than a month after the deadly Alabama tornadoes, a supercell generated an EF-5 tornado that hit the heavily populated, southern part of Joplin, Missouri, during the afternoon of May 22 (Figure 11-6-2). The tornado, which had a maximum diameter of 1.2 km (0.75 mi), cut a nearly 10 km (6 mi) path through the town with maximum winds exceeding 320 km/hr (200 mph), About 171 people died in Joplin, making the tornado the deadliest during the modern period of record keeping that began in 1950. The Joplin tornado ranks as the seventh deadliest in U.S. history.2013 Tornado SeasonThough 2013 did not have nearly the number of tornadoes as did 2011, the month of May 2013 did have two very deadly tornadoes—both in Oklahoma and only days apart.Newcastle–Moore, OklahomaAt 2:56 P.M. on May 20 an EF-5 tornado touched down south of Oklahoma City in the town of Newcastle. The tornado cut a path to the east-northeast, staying on the ground about 40 minutes and cutting a swath as much as 2,1 km (1.3 mi) wide and 27 km (17 mi) long. The storm killed 25 people and injured 377 others. The winds, peaking at 340 km/hr [210 mph), destroyed 1150 homes and brought about some $2 billion in damages. The Newcastle–Moore tornado was the deadliest since the 2011 Joplin tornado, but it was not the last to hit Oklahoma that month—another powerful and deadly twister hit the town of El Reno 11 days later.El Reno, OklahomaIt took only 11 days for a second EF-5 tornado to hit Oklahoma, the shortest time span in recorded history. The storm hit the town of El Reno on May 31. Although the death toll at El Reno was slightly less than that of the Moore tornado—19 fatalities—the storm was noteworthy for setting a record for the widest path for an American tornado, measuring 4.2 km (2.6 mi) at its widest (Figure 11-6-3).Touching west of Oklahoma City at 6:03 P.M., the tornado swept a 25.7 km (16 mi) path over the next 40 minutes. The storm produced 475 km/hr (295 mph) winds at its maximum. It was also noteworthy in that prominent storm chasers Tim Samaras, Carl Young, and Samaras’s son, Paul, were killed while making a scientific reconnaissance of the tornado. Given the severity and similarities of the two events, the Newcastle–Moore and El Reno tornadoes provoked intense discussions about the reevaluation of recommended safety procedures. This issue is discussed in Box 11-7, Focus on the Environment and Societal Impacts: Life and Death Decisions with the Threat of Tornadoes.The Role of National Weather Service AlertsAs horrific as the death and injury statistics were for these tornadoes, they almost certainly would have been far worse without the alerts given by the National Weather Service. When a roof was partially blown off one of the terminals at Lambert International in St. Louis on April 22, 2011, there were no fatalities, because much of the airport had already been evacuated following a tornado warning. Similarly, the death toll relative to the degree of destruction during the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes was nothing short of remarkable.The National Weather Service played a lifesaving role for all of these outbreaks, providing residents time to take cover prior to being hit by the tornadoes. For example, a tornado warning was issued for Joplin, Missouri, at 5:17 P.M. local time by the forecast office in Springfield. The first report of tornadoes touching ground occurred at 5:41 P.M. A tornado watch had also been issued some 4 hours prior to the tornado, giving the public additional advanced safety information.FIGURE 11-6-1 Alabama Tornado Destruction. Dozens of homes fay in ruin in Pratt City, near Birmingham, Alabama, following a devastating April 28, 2011, tornado....FIGURE 11-6-2 Joplin, Missouri Tornado Destruction on May 24, 2011....FIGURE 11-6-3 Oklahoma Tornado Destruction. Satellite image showing the swath of the El Reno tornado....Given the size and strength of the tornadoes, how would the outcome have been different had no warnings or other advisories been issued? Get solution
