WTVM Weather

From One Small Town to Another..

Just got this via email, and wanted to pass along here for our readers in Georgia:

 

From One Small Town to Another: is a small group with the intent on helping some of the small cities that aren't getting help with some of the big organizations. It's based out of Americus, GA with the drop off location of:

 

Randall's Auto Repair 8:30am-8:00pm until Friday at 8:00

422 Southerfield Road

Americus, GA 31719

 

We are asking for:

Water

Food (non perishables)

Clothes

Diapers

Wipes

Formulat, ETC...

 

For all information or questions contact:

Megan McArthur (229) 591-5980

Patricia Richards (229) 815-8095

 

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Muggy Monday; Rain/Storms Return Tomorrow

TORNADO NEWS: Damage surveys are still underway across parts of the South.  As of now, we know of 15 confirmed tornadoes in Alabama and 15 in Georgia, just from the afternoon, evening, and overnight of April 27/28.  I'll post some more info here from the specific storms as it comes in, and share with you some images of radar and velocity data for some of the tornadic storms later.

WEATHER NOW:  It's warm and muggy as we have kicked off the work week.  The high in Columbus so far today is 87, but that could go up a degree or two before the official numbers come in.  A nice mix of clouds and sun is showing up on our ALFA Insurance Skycam shot from atop the Tiger Suites building in Auburn:

RAIN / STORMS RETURN:  Rain and storms will return to the forecast Tuesday afternoon and evening, perhaps lasting into the night and very early morning hours on Wednesday.  Our in-house RPM shows most of Tuesday will be dry and warm.  Here's the output for 3:30 PM ET, with rain and storms just beginning to push into parts of East Alabama:

The system will be losing strength as it pushes in our direction, and severe weather is not expected.  The SPC has a severe risk for areas in the Mid-Atlantic states, and a "general" risk of thunderstorms for Alabama and Georgia:

COOLER & LESS HUMID:  After the rain moves out, we'll have cooler and less humid conditions to carry us through the middle and end of the week, with a warming trend expected for next weekend.  Still no signs of any major severe weather concerns for the next 7-10 days.

STAY CONNECTED:  Follow our forecasts on Twitter & Facebook.  I also update my personal Facebook page with lots of great images and weather information.  Find more weather info on the Weather tabat WTVM.com. 

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Next System Tomorrow

Great weather to start off our first work week of  the month of  May as high pressure influences our forecast. South to southeast winds coupled with sunny to partly cloudy skies will push daytime highs into the mid to upper 80s area wide. Below is a look at how things looked at Midtown Columbus from our Alfa Insurance Skycam around 11am ET.

 

 

Another storm system is on its way here tomorrow and should provide our next chance of scattered showers and some thunderstorms. Not expecting a severe weather outbreak like last week thankfully, but a few storms could contain brief gusty winds. Storm Prediction Center at this point has a slight risk of severe weather well to our north for Tuesday. Our weather pattern looks pretty good for the rest of the week once this system leaves Wednesday. Temperatures should a bit cooler both in the afternoon and overnight for a couple of days before a warming trend takes hold by the weekend.

Meteorologist Bruce Lee

 

Elmore/Tallapoosa/Chambers County Tornado UPGRADE

The below is a write-up from the NWS on the tornado that moved through parts of Elmore and Tallapoosa Counties, before ending in Chambers County.  They have upgraded it to an EF-4 tornado with winds up to 170 mph at it's strongest point.  Remarkable.  I highlighted the part that discusses why they upgraded the ranking to an EF-4.

When it moved into Chambers County, the tornado had weakened just a bit before dissipating in Chambers County.  I believe the same thunderstorm produced another tornado in Troup County, Georgia.

 

TORNADO 14...LAKE MARTIN TORNADO (ELMORE/TALLAPOOSA/CHAMBERS
COUNTIES)

PRELIMINARY DATA...
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-4 
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): UP TO 170
INJURIES/FATALITIES: SEVERAL INJURIES/9 FATALITIES
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 32.6174/-86.193 AT 812 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 32.9196/-85.523 AT 909 AM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 44.1 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
NOTE:

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE FROM CENTRAL
ELMORE COUNTY...EXTENDING EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
AND THE LAKE MARTIN AREA...TO WESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY. IT HAS BEEN
DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A VIOLENT TORNADO.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW FROM TORNADO DAMAGE EXPERTS...IT HAS BEEN
DETERMINED THAT THE LAKE MARTIN TORNADO WAS CONSISTENT WITH EF-4
DAMAGE AT ITS STRONGEST...WITH WINDS UP TO 170 MPH. THE TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 209 NEAR MEADOWVIEW DRIVE WHERE A FEW
SNAPPED TREES WERE NOTED. FROM THERE...THE TORNADO QUICKLY
INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED NORTHEAST THROUGH DEXTER WIDENING AND
PRODUCING EF-2 DAMAGE TO SEVERAL HOMES. FROM THERE...IT CONTINUED
ACROSS HIGHWAY 9 DAMAGING SEVERAL HOMES...THEN INTENSIFIED TO EF-3
STRENGTH AS IT MOVED THROUGH A MOBILE HOME PARK AT THE INTERSECTION
OF MIDDLE ROAD AND AUCTION BARN ROAD COMPLETELY DESTROYING 10 MOBILE
HOMES AND KILLING 4 PEOPLE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EAST TO THE MOUNT
HEBRON ROAD AREA...DESTROYING SEVERAL HOMES...BUSINESSES...2
CHURCHES...AND AN AGRICULTURAL NURSERY. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED
LAKE MARTIN...JUST SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 63 BRIDGE...DOING
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS HOMES AROUND THE WYNDERMERE AREA. AT
THIS POINT...THE TORNADO WAS NEAR 1/4 MILE WIDE. THE TORNADO THEN
MOVED INTO TALLAPOOSA COUNTY JUST SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 34...WIDENING
TO NEAR 1/2 MILE AND STRENGTHENING TO EF-4 INTENSITY. HERE THE
DAMAGE WAS THE MOST WIDESPREAD AND SEVERE WITH SEVERAL WELL BUILT
MULTI-STORY HOMES TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH NO WALLS REMAINING ON
FLOORS ABOVE BASEMENT LEVEL.  THE TORNADO CONTINUED AT THIS STRENGTH
BUT BECAME MORE NARROW TO NEAR 400 YARDS WIDE AS IT CROSSED HIGHWAY
49 JUST NORTH OF JONES ROAD WHERE IT DESTROYED 2 HOMES AND ROLLED A
PICK-UP TRUCK 120 YARDS. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST CROSSING
U.S. HIGHWAY 280 JUST EAST OF DADEVILLE PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE
TO SEVERAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES. FROM HERE THE TORNADO CROSSED INTO
WESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY PASSING JUST TO THE NORTH OF SIKES. ALONG
COUNTY ROAD 54 NORTH OF SIKES...1 HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE
TORNADO WEAKENED AS IT MOVED NORTHEAST ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 66 AND
ENDED JUST NORTH OF COUNTY ROAD 51.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Damage Surveys/Weather Update

HOW YOU CAN HELP:  It is still hard to wrap your head around the devastation -- how widespread the damage is, how many people lost their lives, and how much property was destroyed.  Many of you feel the need to help your neighbors, and you can go to our website and click on the green "Quick Links" button for more information.  It's an easy process if you want to give money which goes directly to the Red Cross; also, if you have certain items you'd like to donate, there will drop-off point across the area where you can do so.  So many people across Alabama, Georgia, and the rest of the South need our help, so if you can something, please do!

DAMAGE SURVEY UPDATES:  In the WTVM coverage area, there were 5 tornadoes:

EF1 in Troup, Heard, & Coweta Counties (GA)

EF2 in Troup County (GA)

EF2 in Harris, Meriwether, & Upson Counties (GA)

EF3 in Meriwether, Spalding, & Henry Counties (GA)

EF3 (perhaps greater) in Elmore, Tallapoosa, & Chambers Counties (AL)

You can find links to google maps with tornado paths, damage pictures, and information on other tornadoes in Alabama and Georgia on the following websites:

National Weather Service in Birmingham

National Weather Service in Peachtree City

Also, you can search our website for pictures and stories of survival from the damaged areas.

WEATHER UPDATE:  The weekend weather has been great, and just what the doctor ordered if you have had outdoor plans or cleanup underway where you are.  Here's a look outside on this Sunday afternoon from our ALFA Insurance Skycam at the Alabama Power building in Eufaula:

Monday should feature a mix of sun and clouds with more warm weather.

STORMS RETURN:  Keep in mind, with each round of thunderstorms we have coming up over the coming months, people will be a little on edge.  We will see a chance of rain and perhaps some strong storms returning late Tuesday into the overnight hours and Wednesday morning, but NOTHING like the kind of weather event we went through on Wednesday.  That was a once in a blue moon kind of setup, and if we ever see anything like that again, it will likely be well forecast in advance -- as this past event was.  Here's the severe weather risk from the Storm Prediction Center; notice we're in the general risk for thunderstorms, but some of those could be strong.  The best severe weather chances are to our north and west:

REST OF NEXT WEEK:  After the rain moves out, we've got a stretch of great weather to finish the week and head into next weekend.

STAY CONNECTED:  Don't forget, you can follow our forecasts on Twitter & Facebook, and keep up to date with my personal Facebook page.  More information is always available on the Weather Tabat WTVM.com.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Great Weekend on the Way

Learning the tornado that tracked through parts of Tallapoosa and Chambers County is AT LEAST an EF-3.  A special survey team will be called in to see if the damage could be EF-4 or EF-5 damage.  Incredible.  When the surveys are completed, we'll post a complete rundown of all the storms in our area!

The good news from a weather standpoint is that we have a great looking weekend forecast on the way.  That also means great weather in case you have cleanup efforts underway where you are.  Look for lots of sun, warm temperatures, and no rain.  Our next rain chances will come late Tuesday into Wednesday. 

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, get out and volunteer if you can!  There are plenty of people that can use our help.  You can also go to our website and click on the Green Quick Links  tab at the top of the homepage to figure out how you can help the victims of the tornadoes.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

 

Confirmed Tornadoes in Harris, Troup, & Meriwether Counties

The NWS in Peachtree City has confirmed 14 tornadoes in Georgia.  Surveys in Elmore, Tallapoosa, and Chambers Counties in Alabama are not complete yet.  We'll bring you the latest information as it becomes available!  Here's the updated information from the NWS on the tornadoes in Harris, Troup, and Meriwether Counties:

...EF3 TORNADO IN MERIWETHER...SPALDING AND HENRY COUNTIES...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF3
TORNADO WITH WINDS OF 140 MPH TOUCHED DOWN 6 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST
OF GAY IN MERIWETHER COUNTY AT APPROXIMATELY 1203 AM EDT THURSDAY
MORNING. IT TRACKED ACROSS SPALDING COUNTY AND LIFTED 2 MILES SOUTH
OF HAMPTON IN HENRY COUNTY AT APPROXIMATELY 1228 AM EDT. THE TORNADO
HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 20 MILES AND A WIDTH OF A HALF OF A MILE. TWO
FATALITIES OCCURRED IN THE SUNNY SIDE COMMUNITY WHEN A MOBILE HOME
PARK WAS DESTROYED.

...EF2 TORNADO IN TROUP COUNTY...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF2
TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 120 MPH DEVELOPED 5 MILES SOUTH OF
LAGRANGE AROUND 1120 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT TRACKED FOR 7 MILES
BEFORE LIFTING AROUND 6 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF LAGRANGE AT 1130 PM.
THE PATH LENGTH WAS 7 MILES AND THE WIDTH WAS UP TO ONE QUARTER
MILE. AROUND 15 HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND AROUND 50 HOMES SUSTAINED
HEAVY TO MINOR DAMAGE ALONG ITS PATH. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE
SNAPPED AND UPROOTED WITH MANY POWERLINES DOWN. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE OCCURRED NEAR HIGHWAY 219 AND MURPHY RD ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH
OF THE CITY LIMITS OF LAGRANGE. ABOUT 12 HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN
THIS AREA. ONE HOME WAS PICKED UP AND THROWN 50 FEET AND ITS SUNROOM
WAS THROWN 300 YARDS. A WELL BUILT LOG CABIN ON A HILL TOP WAS BLOWN
OFF ITS FOUNDATION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE TORNADO/S
MOVEMENT AND DESTROYED. THERE WERE AT LEAST 5 INJURIES IN THIS AREA
AS WELL.

...EF2 TORNADO IN HARRIS...MERIWETHER AND UPSON COUNTIES...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF2
TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 130 MPH DEVELOPED 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF
PINE MOUNTAIN VALLEY AROUND 1150 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT TRACKED FOR
24 MILES BEFORE LIFTING AROUND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF THOMASTON ALONG
HIGHWAY 74. THE WIDTH AVERAGED A HALF A MILE WIDE WITH ITS WIDEST
POINT BEING CLOSE TO THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE WIDE ALONG HIGHWAY
354...JUST NORTH OF PINE MOUNTAIN VALLEY. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE
SNAPPED AND UPROOTED WITH MANY POWERLINES DOWN. WHILE SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE WAS EXPERIENCED ALONG MOST OF THE PATH WITH HOUSE DAMAGE AND
BARNS DESTROYED...THE MOST EXTENSIVE WAS LOCATED WITHIN FRANKLIN
DELANO STATE PARK. WITHIN THE PARK...IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 30 PERCENT
OF THE 40 STRUCTURES LOCATED IN A CAMPGROUND WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED INCLUDING A LARGE ASSEMBLY SHELTER. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE
TREE DAMAGE LIMITING ACCESS WITHIN THE PARK...ASSESSMENTS FOR THE
PRECISE NUMBER OF HOMES AND CABINS AFFECTED ARE ONGOING.

...EF1 TORNADO IN TROUP...HEARD AND COWETA COUNTIES...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF1
TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 90 MPH DEVELOPED 3 MILES WEST OF
HILLCREST AROUND 1045 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT TRACKED FOR 17
MILES THROUGH SOUTHEAST HEARD COUNTY TO 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF
GRANTVILLE BEFORE LIFTING AT 1110 PM. THE PATH LENGTH WAS 17 MILES
AND THE MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS AROUND 100 YARDS. A HAULING TRAILER AND
HORSE TRAILER WERE THROWN AROUND 20 FEET AND ABOUT 5 HOMES WERE
DAMAGED IN SOUTHEAST HEARD COUNTY IN AND NEAR MILLER RD...ONE
HEAVILY DAMAGED AS IT LOST TWO EXTERIOR WALLS AND PART OF ITS ROOF.
AROUND A THOUSAND TREES WERE ESTIMATED TO BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED
ALONG ITS PATH. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Join us at 7 PM ET on WTVM

We are going on TV at 7 PM ET for a half hour special.  We'll be sharing some incredible stories and video from the tornado outbreak across Alabama and the rest of the Southeast, and we'll be telling you how you can donate to help the folks in Alabama and Georgia too.

That's tonight at 7 PM ET on WTVM, Newsleader 9.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com

Peaceful Weekend

After such a tough week of weather across the deep South and including parts of the Chattahoochee Valley, a well deserved break is in the cards for us. Due to a broad area of high pressure, quiet conditions are expected with mostly sunny skies during the day and fair conditions at night. A slight warming trend through Sunday is anticipated with highs in the lower to mid 80s.

Wondering about our next chance of rain?? Well it looks like a disturbance should push in our area late Monday into Tuesday with scattered showers and some thunderstorms possible. Too early to tell if we will see any severe weather with this system with some differences in the computer models, but rest assured it will be nothing like the South saw earlier this week. Temperatures will cool off a bit by the middle of next week as highs dip back around the mid 70s or so. Have a great weekend and stay safe.

-Meteorologist Bruce Lee

Damage Surveys Ongoing

I sat down to write a blog entry earlier today, but did not know where to start.  Just thinking about the sheer magnitude of the event we've just been through, both in terms of damage and death.  It's a situation where you run out of adjectives.

In our viewing area, damage surveys are still ongoing, and the National Weather Service officein Birmingham will be out in Tallapoosa and Chambers County Friday, while the NWS in Peachtree City will be out in Troup, Meriwether, and Harris Counties.  We'll bring you in the information on these storms as soon as we get them.

Just wanted to pass along this incredible image... all of the tornado warnings issued by National Weather Service offices across the Eastern US starting at 8 AM Wednesday through 8 AM Thursday:

The pictures, video, skycam shots, aerial surveys, etc., have been incredible.  This is a tornado outbreak that is rewriting the record books, especially in the state of Alabama.  Here's a great article by my colleague in Montgomery, Meteorologist Jeff Jumper that lists some of the worst tornadoes and outbreaks in Alabama history and where this one ranks as of now.

Thank you so much for all the kind phone calls, emails, and Facebook messages after the severe weather events.  We're here to serve viewers like you, so please let us know what you like, what you don't like, and we'll try to make this process better for everyone! We encourage you to keep up with the weather on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and my personal Facebook page  as well.

Meteorologist Derek Kinkade, WTVM / WXTX

dkinkade@wtvm.com