Stormy Weather - Part 2

After yesterday's let up in the rain, we got in plenty of pool time, and were tired out by the night.

 However, this morning I woke at 6AM to use the restroom, and decided to check the radar, since the rain was pouring down again, and it looked very ominous outside my bedroom door...

 I pulled up Weather.com and saw this "Special Weather Statement" for my area...

Issued by The National Weather Service
Newport, NC
7:34 am EDT, Thu., Jul. 12, 2012

... SHOWERS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE PAMLICO SOUND AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS...

AT 726 AM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED SHOWERS FORMING OVER THE EASTERN PAMLICO SOUND. A WATERSPOUT WAS REPORTED EARLIER WITH ONE OF THE SHOWERS AND MARINERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR ADDITIONAL WATERSPOUTS.

IF A WATERSPOUT IS SPOTTED NAVIGATE AWAY FROM IT AND SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

Well, after the local weather from the night before, and being the weather geek that I am, I freaked out, woke the husband and dog and went upstairs to try to see the storm come in. I was monitoring radar, and Matt was watching the weather channel, and Buddha was just confused as to whether I was going to walk him, or give him  cookie. When he determined neither was happening, he pouted on the kitchen rug. After about 20 minutes, the storm passed, and no, no waterspouts came near us.

So I made an English muffin, apologized to Matt for being a weather worry wart as always, and we went back to bed. While the rain continued on for hours more, I am happy to show you that my current view from my bedroom door looks far more promising than it did earlier.

Ok, it's up and at 'em time! xoxoSGS

Super Outbreak 2 - wrap up.

(Photo right: Stafford, VA)

Not since the 1974 Super Outbreak have we seen such a violent tornadic outbreak in the US. In the past several days, over 160 tornadoes have touched down in multiple states in the Southeast, killing as many as 249 known people. Many are still missing or unaccounted for. It is a rarity to have such an outbreak in the DMV region, though we have had strong tornadoes in the past. Nine years ago today, an F4 tornado ravaged Charles County, and La Plata, MD in particular. But to have this many funnel clouds and Doppler indicated tornadoes, as well as spotted tornadoes on the ground is very much out of the ordinary.

The South also suffered horrific damage, including a horrific F5 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama. The Capital Weather Gang wrote a good summary piece about how this outbreak happened, and in their post, you can watch incredible footage of live news coverage from downtown Tuscaloosa as the monster storm approaches. Click HERE to read the article and see the video. And to step back and really look at the big picture on a human scale, you should look at this link of photos from the devastation. Click HERE. The photos bring tears to my eyes.

Below are several photos that I have found of tornadoes throughout the DMV region from yesterday. After this week's devastating and too close for comfort storms, my hope is that everyone develops a tornado plan for themselves and their family, in case you have not already done so. After 249 deaths, 8 of which occurred in Virginia, I really hope you do. Stay aware and stay safe.

SPOTSYLVANIA/STAFFORD VA

DUMFRIES, VA

CLINTON, MD

ANDREWS AIRFORCE BASE

You can follow your local DMV weather at my links to the side, Weather.com, Capital Weather Gang, or WTOP News. Tornado season is just beginning. Have a plan of action for you and your family.

xoxo
SGS

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to 272 and counting. This now ranks as the 2nd deadliest outbreak in the past 50 years.

Eyes to the Skies...

Indication map is for tomorrow's probabilities for Severe Weather...

This is from the Jackson, MS HWO.
Quote:
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODING ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY...FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES. ALL AREAS OF THE FORECAST AREA WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THE BEST CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR WEST AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM BROOKHAVEN TO MERIDIAN WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL EXPECTED OVER THE DELTA REGION FROM NATCHEZ TO GRENADA..


SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS MAY BE NEEDED FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

With my parents starting a road trip to Peoria, Illinois tomorrow, I will be monitoring this situation carefully.

The Weather Channel's severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes says the next several days could be stormy.

UPDATED at 4:07PM: Dr. Forbes' updated areas of risk for tomorrow are not as advanced to the East as before, probably due to the large high pressure system in the Northeast pushing it back.

Here is their map for today's risk areas.

Stay tuned.

xoxosgs

Hump Day Check In

Hey there folks. What's new? What's going on in your lives? How is your summer going?
Mine is off to an interesting start.
I am working at my part time day job for a couple of days a week, but that is about it, so for the first time ever, I have filed for unemployment.
I start teaching camp in about 2 weeks, so I don't plan to be on it for long.
It's just these 2 weeks that will get a bit scary in the wallet department...so if any of you want to cook me dinner, I wouldn't object...haha.
Speaking of which, I signed up to sell some stuff at our community's yard sale this Saturday from 8AM to 11AM. I have been making some candles to sell there, and drudged through many dvds, videos, clothes, etc. I am sure to have a strange, interesting and wonderful sales table. Drop on by and buy some stuff!
My cabaret this summer will be entitled "Mixtape"
and will feature an eclectic blend of folk, pop, gospel, show tunes and more, featuring Gabe Mangiante on the piano. July 15th at Signature Theatre. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
What else?
I am kind of obsessed with The Weather Channel's

VORTEX2: The Great Tornado Hunt
It is an amazing show, fascinating and breath taking all at once. I feel a little heartsick watching it, because I know that I am watching what I truly should have done with my life (career wise). Not just being a tornado chaser, but being a field meteorologist. This show is almost over, but you can catch 2 more days of it on The Weather Channel and also catch their streaming web casts from 12-2PM tomorrow and the next day as they drive to whatever their new chase locations will be. Check it out.

Ok...that's my hump day check in. Hope you are all well and that life is treating you good.
Chat more tomorrow.
SGS

Wyoming Sideway Tornado - AMAZING VIDEO!

The only glimpse of the inside of a tornado ever caught on film. Amazing stuff.

Aftermath

The storms that raced through the DC Metro area yesterday proved to be deadly. A man was killed in Annandale when a tree was toppled over onto his car. I was working at TicketPlace, and nervous as I could be about Matt and Buddha's safety. It was frustrating to me, because I was in DC, and not able to be home to take care of Buddha. I wanted nothing more than to go home and make sure he was OK, in case something happened. Then I hear that there is a tornado in Falls Church headed toward Arlington, and I was INSANE with fear for my poor little puppy alone in our house. My head would flash nightmare images at me, including the old pine tree in our back yard falling into the house.

Round one of the storm was very strong, and the lightning was very intense. Also the wind, which seemed to blow the rain horizontally. Trees in front of TicketPlace bowed to the ground. When the first round was over, we had a break for a few hours, and I worked extra hard to make sure that all of my closing work was done timely so that I could get out of TicketPlace and get home before round 2 hit.






I took the metro Orange Line towards Vienna and LORD WAS IT PACKED! We were jammed in there like sardines to the point that I had to close my eyes just to not freak out from claustrophobia. When I got to the Kennedy Center (where I parked) I pulled out of the garage just as the rain from round 2 started. I white knuckled it all the way home as lightning struck trees literally right outside my window on the parkway. I was terrified.





By the time that I was almost home, round 2 had already started to ease up. I parked my car and by then had already talked to Matt, who informed me that power was out at our house. Since we usually cook Buddha his dinner, and that was going to be an impossibility, I decided to walk over to Bradlee Shopping center and pick up a can of something for Buddha to eat. Getting there I saw that the power was out for the entire shopping center. I started to walk back to my house and for a moment pondered walking to 7-11, but the sky was threatening looking and rain had started falling again, so I headed home. Halfway home it started pouring down, and I began to run.







I lit candles (Mine is the best house to be in when the power goes out, ps)and listened to WTOP on my NOAA Weather Radio. I also broke out my LED flashlight, which is the best damn flashlight that I have ever owned; brighter than a regular one, and it lasts FOREVER.
Round 3 was not as bad as the previous 2, but boasted some pretty scary lightning all the same.
My nerves were so frazzled from the stress of the day. I can't tell you how jangled I felt. By 10PM, I was exhausted. I sat and read by flashlight with Buddha (who was also scared, ps) cuddled on my lap. It's funny how every once in awhile we get a storm like that, almost like Mother Nature sits up and reminds you who is in charge. A storm like that can stop everything dead in its tracks. TV's are off, lights are off, life itself stands still until the storm has had it's say and rolls on. I guess I wish that the storm didn't have so much to say, however.




By 10:15PM, miraculously, the power came back on. Buddha was brought a dinner from the 7-11 by Matt, that consisted of: a hot dog, ham, and a container of Caesar's dog food. Buddha seemed thrilled to both eat and watch TV again. I know that there are many still without power, and hope that all of that is fixed soon. It was a roller coaster of a day for me, the like of which I hope not to experience again any time soon. Anyone else have any storm stories from yesterday? Tell us about them!
Also - here is some useful information for all of you Arlington residents, brought to me by Arlington Alert:
Downed Power Lines: After a storm look for any downed power lines before cutting up any debris. To report downed power lines, contact Virginia Power at 1-888-667-3000.

Safety Message: When traffic lights are not working at intersections, treat them as a 4-way stop.

Debris Removal: To have debris collected from your property, please follow normal brush collection procedures. Go to www.arlingtonva.us/DES or call 703-228-6570 and select Option 2 to request a brush collection. Debris is collected on your regular trash collection day by request only. For more information, visit www.arlingtonva.us/des

The Weather Channel also featured a video segment on the Capitol Area's Wednesday storms.
There you have it folks.
Stephen, your storm watch reporter. ;)

Sources: The Washington Post, Arlington Alert, The Weather Channel.

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 8PM

Go HERE and check for details.

Strongest Tornado ever...

This tornado had the strongest wind speeds ever recorded on earth, in excess of 300 MPH!



Ps....still no computer at home. :(

SGS