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Devastating tornado strikes Joplin, Missouri


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not me. i'm here constantly.

im pretty sure i'd make a post on my last 1% of iphone power even if it meant i couldnt call my family but eh. to me, the fact that a weather nerd was seemingly just sitting and talking about the couplet about to pass over him might tell a larger tale of this event. it's easy to imagine the worst, so i guess we'll just have to hope for the best for now.

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It was sort of a perfect storm though I guess an argument could be made that the cell was ongoing for quite a while before it got there even if the tornado seems to have energized right before hitting. Seems it hit at just about the worst time possible outside perhaps a weekday around the same time. Sure, some may have been sleeping later so who knows, but there would have been less people out and about overall. It's scary that with all the advances there is probably not a lot that can be done from stopping this from happening in the future.

Maybe this, since everyone has a cell phone, every cell tower in a tornado warning area blasts an auto text to all phones in the reception area.

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Try this since everyone has a cell phone, every cell tower in a tornado warning area blasts an auto text to all phones in the reception area.

That's probably a good idea going forward... the warnings need to be further refined probably too. Still, you'd think after seeing all that carnage just a few weeks ago people would be extra heightened to this stuff right now. I wonder how many laypeople actually understand that survival gets extremely difficult on these high end events unless you take very serious precautions. In some cases it's probably just not available as well.

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I've been thinking, it's pretty remarkable (and sad) how many tornado and death toll benchmarks have been set so far this year:  

~ worst (# of tornadoes) outbreak in NC history, possibly of all time, but at least since 1884

~ worst tornado outbreak in AL history, definitely in terms of deaths, possibly also in terms of total tornadoes

~ possibly the most prolific tornado day in U.S. history (4/27/2011)

~ deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since at least 1936 (if you consider the Tupelo and Gainesville tornadoes both parts of one outbreak), or possibly 1925

~ deadliest single U.S. tornado since either 1953 (if 116 death toll in Joplin holds), 1947, or 1936 (if you consider the Woodward event to have been more than a single tornado)  

That's a lot to bear in just one year.

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That's probably a good idea going forward... the warnings need to be further refined probably too. Still, you'd think after seeing all that carnage just a few weeks ago people would be extra heightened to this stuff right now. I wonder how many laypeople actually understand that survival gets extremely difficult on these high end events unless you take very serious precautions. In some cases it's probably just not available as well.

Cable/direct tv, fm radio, XM do not interrupt all channels.perhaps civil defense messages should auto blast warned areas on all media.

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I've been thinking, it's pretty remarkable (and sad) how many tornado and death toll benchmarks have been set so far this year:

~ worst (# of tornadoes) outbreak in NC history, possibly of all time, but at least since 1884

~ worst tornado outbreak in AL history, definitely in terms of deaths, possibly also in terms of total tornadoes

~ possibly the most prolific tornado day in U.S. history (4/27/2011)

~ deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since at least 1936 (if you consider the Tupelo and Gainesville tornadoes both parts of one outbreak), or possibly 1925

~ deadliest single U.S. tornado since either 1953 (if 116 death toll in Joplin holds), 1947, or 1936 (if you consider the Woodward event to have been more than a single tornado)

That's a lot to bear in just one year.

Most fatalities in one year since 1953, as well.

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I wouldn't draw any conclusions for a while. It could very well be days before he will even have internet access again, and even if he has internet access, he may a number of other things to be taking care of before he checks in here.

yeah, I was just hoping for some good news. I'm sure he has plenty of other things to be doing right now

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I've been thinking, it's pretty remarkable (and sad) how many tornado and death toll benchmarks have been set so far this year:

~ worst (# of tornadoes) outbreak in NC history, possibly of all time, but at least since 1884

~ worst tornado outbreak in AL history, definitely in terms of deaths, possibly also in terms of total tornadoes

~ possibly the most prolific tornado day in U.S. history (4/27/2011)

~ deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since at least 1936 (if you consider the Tupelo and Gainesville tornadoes both parts of one outbreak), or possibly 1925

~ deadliest single U.S. tornado since either 1953 (if 116 death toll in Joplin holds), 1947, or 1936 (if you consider the Woodward event to have been more than a single tornado)

That's a lot to bear in just one year.

Reminds me of the website dedicated to all of the records broken during the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane season.

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Living in an area that has experienced a Cat 3, folks here are aware that evacuating the coast is the only way to deal with a hurricane. IMHO if I am warned about a dangerous tornado I am getting the hell out of Dodge contrary to current official advice.

I'd probably do the same thing but it's bad advice for the general public, especially in a rain-wrapped case like yesterday when even experienced chasers can be caught in precarious positions.

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im pretty sure i'd make a post on my last 1% of iphone power even if it meant i couldnt call my family but eh. to me, the fact that a weather nerd was seemingly just sitting and talking about the couplet about to pass over him might tell a larger tale of this event. it's easy to imagine the worst, so i guess we'll just have to hope for the best for now.

Yeah, I kinda hope they were tuned into their GR2AE from the basement and not just chilling on the porch.

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Living in an area that has experienced a Cat 3, folks here are aware that evacuating the coast is the only way to deal with a hurricane. IMHO if I am warned about a dangerous tornado I am getting the hell out of Dodge contrary to current official advice.

My biggest concern is more people thinking like this. It's going to lead to some needless deaths.

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I'd probably do the same thing but it's bad advice for the general public, especially in a rain-wrapped case like yesterday when even experienced chasers can be caught in precarious positions.

Agree, knowing a little is an advantage. Pretty much can not lose by heading due East in these parts.

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Those Mike Bettes videos still get to me.....that raw emotion coming upon the scene, with a 'national'-type anchor describing seeing the dead bodies and injuries and then breaking down even more in later live shots. Maybe especially since he is normally one of the more wooden Weather Channel on air mets, just groomed in his role for his height and his looks, it's stirring to see him break down like this.

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You stay for a 3/4/5 I am out, my decision.

Of course it's your decision. If I'm perfectly honest, if I have 5 min warning and a radar loop I very well might make the same decision. Doesn't mean that a lot of people aren't going to screw up trying it though. Many of which would have been perfectly safe if they took shelter at home.

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Of course it's your decision. If I'm perfectly honest, if I have 5 min warning and a radar loop I very well might make the same decision. Doesn't mean that a lot of people aren't going to screw up trying it though. Many of which would have been perfectly safe if they took shelter at home.

Great avatar, if I saw that out my window yikes. I understand what you are saying just stating no freaking way am I staying in the path of your avatar.

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Longer, more detailed PNS for Joplin out:

(Timestamp is off by an hour haha)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO

938 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2011

...JOPLIN TORNADO GIVEN A PRELIMINARY HIGH END EF-4 RATING...

* DATE...22 MAY 2011

* BEGIN LOCATION...APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOPLIN

* END LOCATION...1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF DUQUESNE

* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME...541 PM

* ESTIMATED END TIME...550 PM

* MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-4

* ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...190-198 MPH

* ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH...3/4 OF A MILE

* PATH LENGTH...7 MILES

* FATALITIES...116 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* INJURIES...400 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* BEGIN LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.57 W

* END LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.39 W

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAMS RATED THE TORNADO THAT KILLED

OVER 100 PEOPLE IN AND AROUND JOPLIN AS A HIGH END EF-4 TORNADO.

BASED UPON SURVEYS COMPLETED TODAY...MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED

BETWEEN 190 AND 198 MPH. THE TORNADO HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 3/4 TO

ONE MILE.

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 541 PM NEAR THE

INTERSECTION OF COUNTRY CLUB AND 32ND STREET. ADDITIONAL SURVEYS ARE

EXPECTED TO BE CONDUCTED TO FURTHER DEFINE THE STARTING POINT AND

INTENSITY AT THIS LOCATION.

DAMAGE BECAME MORE WIDESPREAD AS THE TORNADO CROSSED MAIDEN

LANE...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NEARLY ALL WINDOWS ON THREE

SIDES OF ST JOHNS HOSPITAL AS WELL AS TO THE ROOF. THE TORNADO

FURTHER INTENSIFIED AS IT DESTROYED NUMEROUS HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO

THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL. THE HIGHEST RATED DAMAGE IN

THIS AREA WAS TO A CHURCH SCHOOL THAT HAD ALL BUT A PORTION OF ITS

EXTERIOR WALLS DESTROYED AS WELL AS TO A NURSING HOME. WINDS IN

THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED AT 160 TO 180 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROY OVER 100 HOMES BETWEEN 32ND AND

20TH STREETS. THREE STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAD THE TOP TWO FLOORS

REMOVED...OTHER TWO STORY COMPLEXES WERE PARTIALLY LEVELED. A BANK

WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VAULT. A DILLONS

GROCERY STORE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE.

LASTLY...THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALLS OF A TECHNICAL SCHOOL...A

MORTAR AND REBAR REINFORCED CINDER BLOCK BUILDING...FAILED.

THE TORNADO CROSSED RANGELINE ROAD NEAR 20TH STREET. THE MOST

INTENSE DAMAGE WAS NOTED JUST EAST OF THIS INTERSECTION WHERE A HOME

DEPOT WAS DESTROYED BY AN ESTIMATED 190 TO NEARLY 200 MPH

WINDS. IN ADDITION...THE CUMMINS BUILDING...A CONCRETE BLOCK AND

HEAVY STEEL BUILDING...HAD ITS STEEL ROOF BEAMS COLLAPSE. SPORTS

ACADEMY AND THE WALMART ALSO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO MOVE EASTWARD ALONG AND SOUTH OF 20TH

STREET DESTROYING NUMEROUS WAREHOUSE STYLE FACILITIES AND RESIDENCES

THROUGH DUQUESNE ROAD. WINDS IN THIS AREA MAY ALSO APPROACH 200 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES BEFORE WEAKENING

AS IT TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD INTERSTATE 44. SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE

SURVEYS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF ADDITIONAL

REPORTS ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 71 AND

INTERSTATE 44.

The path length will likely be longer than reported thus far... since there were reports of damage on I-44 as the storm passed through.

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Longer, more detailed PNS for Joplin out:

(Timestamp is off by an hour haha)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO

938 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2011

...JOPLIN TORNADO GIVEN A PRELIMINARY HIGH END EF-4 RATING...

* DATE...22 MAY 2011

* BEGIN LOCATION...APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOPLIN

* END LOCATION...1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF DUQUESNE

* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME...541 PM

* ESTIMATED END TIME...550 PM

* MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-4

* ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...190-198 MPH

* ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH...3/4 OF A MILE

* PATH LENGTH...7 MILES

* FATALITIES...116 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* INJURIES...400 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* BEGIN LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.57 W

* END LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.39 W

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAMS RATED THE TORNADO THAT KILLED

OVER 100 PEOPLE IN AND AROUND JOPLIN AS A HIGH END EF-4 TORNADO.

BASED UPON SURVEYS COMPLETED TODAY...MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED

BETWEEN 190 AND 198 MPH. THE TORNADO HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 3/4 TO

ONE MILE.

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 541 PM NEAR THE

INTERSECTION OF COUNTRY CLUB AND 32ND STREET. ADDITIONAL SURVEYS ARE

EXPECTED TO BE CONDUCTED TO FURTHER DEFINE THE STARTING POINT AND

INTENSITY AT THIS LOCATION.

DAMAGE BECAME MORE WIDESPREAD AS THE TORNADO CROSSED MAIDEN

LANE...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NEARLY ALL WINDOWS ON THREE

SIDES OF ST JOHNS HOSPITAL AS WELL AS TO THE ROOF. THE TORNADO

FURTHER INTENSIFIED AS IT DESTROYED NUMEROUS HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO

THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL. THE HIGHEST RATED DAMAGE IN

THIS AREA WAS TO A CHURCH SCHOOL THAT HAD ALL BUT A PORTION OF ITS

EXTERIOR WALLS DESTROYED AS WELL AS TO A NURSING HOME. WINDS IN

THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED AT 160 TO 180 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROY OVER 100 HOMES BETWEEN 32ND AND

20TH STREETS. THREE STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAD THE TOP TWO FLOORS

REMOVED...OTHER TWO STORY COMPLEXES WERE PARTIALLY LEVELED. A BANK

WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VAULT. A DILLONS

GROCERY STORE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE.

LASTLY...THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALLS OF A TECHNICAL SCHOOL...A

MORTAR AND REBAR REINFORCED CINDER BLOCK BUILDING...FAILED.

THE TORNADO CROSSED RANGELINE ROAD NEAR 20TH STREET. THE MOST

INTENSE DAMAGE WAS NOTED JUST EAST OF THIS INTERSECTION WHERE A HOME

DEPOT WAS DESTROYED BY AN ESTIMATED 190 TO NEARLY 200 MPH

WINDS. IN ADDITION...THE CUMMINS BUILDING...A CONCRETE BLOCK AND

HEAVY STEEL BUILDING...HAD ITS STEEL ROOF BEAMS COLLAPSE. SPORTS

ACADEMY AND THE WALMART ALSO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO MOVE EASTWARD ALONG AND SOUTH OF 20TH

STREET DESTROYING NUMEROUS WAREHOUSE STYLE FACILITIES AND RESIDENCES

THROUGH DUQUESNE ROAD. WINDS IN THIS AREA MAY ALSO APPROACH 200 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES BEFORE WEAKENING

AS IT TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD INTERSTATE 44. SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE

SURVEYS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF ADDITIONAL

REPORTS ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 71 AND

INTERSTATE 44.

The path length will likely be longer than reported thus far... since there were reports of damage on I-44 as the storm passed through.

Doesn't sound like it would be terribly surprising to see it rated EF5 after further analysis. Certainly a candidate.

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Any reports if any of the deaths were at the hospital? The structure itself looked mostly intact, even if it was all blown out. The cars/helicopter, etc showed it was hit pretty bad.

The two previous posts by wxmann and CapeFear made good points.

I saw a report on The Weather Channel that at least five hospital patients were killed as one visitor, all from upper floors hardest hit.

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Longer, more detailed PNS for Joplin out:

(Timestamp is off by an hour haha)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO

938 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2011

...JOPLIN TORNADO GIVEN A PRELIMINARY HIGH END EF-4 RATING...

* DATE...22 MAY 2011

* BEGIN LOCATION...APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOPLIN

* END LOCATION...1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF DUQUESNE

* ESTIMATED BEGIN TIME...541 PM

* ESTIMATED END TIME...550 PM

* MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-4

* ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...190-198 MPH

* ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH...3/4 OF A MILE

* PATH LENGTH...7 MILES

* FATALITIES...116 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* INJURIES...400 REPORTED AS OF 3 PM MONDAY

* BEGIN LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.57 W

* END LAT/LON...37.06 N / 94.39 W

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY TEAMS RATED THE TORNADO THAT KILLED

OVER 100 PEOPLE IN AND AROUND JOPLIN AS A HIGH END EF-4 TORNADO.

BASED UPON SURVEYS COMPLETED TODAY...MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED

BETWEEN 190 AND 198 MPH. THE TORNADO HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 3/4 TO

ONE MILE.

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 541 PM NEAR THE

INTERSECTION OF COUNTRY CLUB AND 32ND STREET. ADDITIONAL SURVEYS ARE

EXPECTED TO BE CONDUCTED TO FURTHER DEFINE THE STARTING POINT AND

INTENSITY AT THIS LOCATION.

DAMAGE BECAME MORE WIDESPREAD AS THE TORNADO CROSSED MAIDEN

LANE...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NEARLY ALL WINDOWS ON THREE

SIDES OF ST JOHNS HOSPITAL AS WELL AS TO THE ROOF. THE TORNADO

FURTHER INTENSIFIED AS IT DESTROYED NUMEROUS HOMES AND BUSINESSES TO

THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL. THE HIGHEST RATED DAMAGE IN

THIS AREA WAS TO A CHURCH SCHOOL THAT HAD ALL BUT A PORTION OF ITS

EXTERIOR WALLS DESTROYED AS WELL AS TO A NURSING HOME. WINDS IN

THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED AT 160 TO 180 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROY OVER 100 HOMES BETWEEN 32ND AND

20TH STREETS. THREE STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAD THE TOP TWO FLOORS

REMOVED...OTHER TWO STORY COMPLEXES WERE PARTIALLY LEVELED. A BANK

WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VAULT. A DILLONS

GROCERY STORE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE.

LASTLY...THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALLS OF A TECHNICAL SCHOOL...A

MORTAR AND REBAR REINFORCED CINDER BLOCK BUILDING...FAILED.

THE TORNADO CROSSED RANGELINE ROAD NEAR 20TH STREET. THE MOST

INTENSE DAMAGE WAS NOTED JUST EAST OF THIS INTERSECTION WHERE A HOME

DEPOT WAS DESTROYED BY AN ESTIMATED 190 TO NEARLY 200 MPH

WINDS. IN ADDITION...THE CUMMINS BUILDING...A CONCRETE BLOCK AND

HEAVY STEEL BUILDING...HAD ITS STEEL ROOF BEAMS COLLAPSE. SPORTS

ACADEMY AND THE WALMART ALSO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO MOVE EASTWARD ALONG AND SOUTH OF 20TH

STREET DESTROYING NUMEROUS WAREHOUSE STYLE FACILITIES AND RESIDENCES

THROUGH DUQUESNE ROAD. WINDS IN THIS AREA MAY ALSO APPROACH 200 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES BEFORE WEAKENING

AS IT TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD INTERSTATE 44. SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE

SURVEYS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF ADDITIONAL

REPORTS ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 71 AND

INTERSTATE 44.

The path length will likely be longer than reported thus far... since there were reports of damage on I-44 as the storm passed through.

some good news for those worried about JoMo...the tornado was strongest after it passed his apparent location.

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Okay, it's bugging me a little bit that CNN keeps referring to this tornado as the "second-deadliest" or "tied for deadliest on record", as in this article:  

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/23/missouri.tornado/index.html

Yeah, I know that they're going by the "as of 1950" benchmark since that's as far as the official NWS database goes, but come, guys. No one really doubts that the deaths on 3/18/1925, 4/5/1936, 4/9/1947, etc etc. were caused by tornadoes. The overall tornado record might be very spotty prior to 1950, but there's nothing wrong with acknowledging high-death-toll events prior to that.  

It does look as if other news outlets (Weather Channel, MSNBC, etc.) are mentioning some of the major tornadoes prior to 1950. Heck even the BBC had a little sidebar on their website that listed some significant past tornado events, including the 1932 Deep South outbreak and the Natchez tornado of 1840.

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some good news for those worried about JoMo...the tornado was strongest after it passed his apparent location.

People on Facebook are saying the suspected location of JoMo was heavily damaged. I've read so much conflicting info today...

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some good news for those worried about JoMo...the tornado was strongest after it passed his apparent location.

Ehh, still not a weak tornado by any means. And the rapid intensification says a short distance wouldn't make too much of a difference, ( structurally speaking) . Hoping for the best

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