Washington Breaks Century-Plus Mark to Set Double Heat Record

Washington's high temperature of 98° on June 1 broke the more than 100-year-old record for the date of 97° in 1895. Moreover, despite the passage of a "cold" front during the evening, the midnight temperature was 83°, so the morning low of 76° also broke the daily record for highest minimum of 74° set in 1991. The 1895 record was one of only two remaining 19th-century daily high temperature records for June in Washington. The sole remaining one is now 102° on June 9, 1874.

Baltimore (BWI) also broke its 1895 record with a high of 98°.

Multiple Tornado Reports in Springfield, Massachusetts Area Update: NWS Confirms 3 Tornadoes, Including Springfield EF-3

Image (click to enlarge): Preliminary Springfield tornado path map from Boston Globe

Image (click to enlarge): Building damage in W. Springfield, Massachusetts, from WWLP-TV, Channel 22.

June 3, 11 PM Update: The National Weather Service confirmed tonight that there were 3 tornadoes in Massachusetts on June 1, including one rated at EF-3 intensity which moved through Springfield and caused a total of 4 fatalities. There were also 2 EF-1 tornadoes in Wilbraham and North Brimfield. According to National Climatic Data Center statistics, this was the largest single outbreak of EF-1 or higher tornadoes in Massachusetts since July 3, 1997.

LOCATION...WESTFIELD TO CHARLTON IN HAMPDEN AND WORCESTER COUNTIES
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...417 PM TO 527 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF3
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...160 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...ONE HALF MILE
PATH LENGTH...39.0 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.10N / 72.75W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.10N / 71.99W
* FATALITIES...4
* INJURIES...200  

In Springfield:

THE TORNADO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED INTO WEST
SPRINGFIELD. THE TORNADO CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO INDUSTRIAL
BUILDINGS AND HOMES. SEVERAL BUILDINGS HAD THEIR ROOFS REMOVED BY
THE TORNADO...A FEW STRUCTURES COLLAPSED...AND SEVERAL MULTI-
STORY BUILDINGS LOST THEIR UPPER STORIES.

THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT THE MEMORIAL
AVENUE BRIDGE AND INTO THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD. HERE THE TORNADO
PRODUCED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA
WITH MANY HOMES DESTROYED. IN ADDITION COMMERCIAL BRICK BUILDINGS
SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. ROOFS WERE REMOVED FROM MANY OF THESE
LARGE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES. THE TORNADO ALSO PRODUCED SEVERE
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO TOWN HOMES AND APARTMENTS NEAR SPRINGFIELD
COLLEGE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED MOVING EAST INTO THE ISLAND POND
SECTION OF SPRINGFIELD...WHERE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL SUSTAINED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE...AND MANY HOMES IN THIS PART THE CITY WERE
COMPLETELY DESTROYED.  

The other 2 storms:

LOCATION...WILBRAHAM IN HAMPDEN COUNTY
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...632 PM TO 640 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...200 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...3.6 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.14N / 72.48W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.15N / 72.40W
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0

LOCATION...NORTH BRIMFIELD IN HAMPDEN COUNTY
DATE...JUNE 1 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...654 PM TO 657 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...100 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...1.3 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...42.14N / 72.23W
ENDING LAT/LON...42.15N / 72.20W
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0   

June 3, 1 PM Update: Storm damage analysis is still underway, but the National Weather Service reports that the preliminary rating of the Springfield tornado is at least EF-3. As noted in the original post below, the last tornado of EF-3 or higher in Massachusetts was in 1995.

June 2, 5 PM Update: The National Weather Service reports that 2 damage assessment teams (7 meteorologists) conducted tornado surveys today from Westfield to Springfield and the Sturbridge area. Because of the extent of the area affected, however, a report will not be issued until Friday.

June 2, 11 AM Update: Raw tornado damage video in Monson, Massachusetts, from NECN:



June 2, 10 AM Update: Several teams of National Weather Service meteorologists will be surveying storm damage and issuing a preliminary report later today.

Midnight Update: More Springfield tornado coverage from the Boston Globe:
Four fatalities confirmed as tornadoes rip through Mass.

Storm video:

Tornado touches down in downtown Springfield: wwlp.com

Original post:
The National Weather Service reports multiple tornado sightings in the vicinity of Springfield, Sturbridge, and Westfield in western Massachusetts late this afternoon. Cars were reported overturned at an exit of route I-84, and a state of emergency was declared by the governor in response to damage in Springfield. According to media reports, the death toll is at least four, with 20 injured.

These are the preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NWS:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     TORNADO          WESTFIELD               42.14N  72.76W
06/01/2011                   HAMPDEN            MA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN SHAKER ROAD AREA.

0432 PM     TORNADO          SPRINGFIELD             42.12N  72.54W
06/01/2011                   HAMPDEN            MA   AMATEUR RADIO

            AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND
            ONE HALF MILE FROM MAIN STREET. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE.

0524 PM     TORNADO          STURBRIDGE              42.10N  72.06W
06/01/2011                   WORCESTER          MA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STATE POLICE NORTHAMPTON REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND
            IN STURBRIDGE ON INTERSTATE 84 EXIT. CARS OVERTURNED.

0607 PM     TORNADO          WESTFIELD               42.14N  72.76W
06/01/2011                   HAMPDEN            MA   UTILITY COMPANY

            ELECTRIC COMPANY REPORTED TO POLICE A TORNADO ON THE
            GROUND IN SOUTHWEST PORTION OF WESTFIELD.

0620 PM     TORNADO          SPRINGFIELD             42.12N  72.54W
06/01/2011                   HAMPDEN            MA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STATE POLICE REPORT TORNADO IN NORTH SPRINGFIELD AREA.


0725 PM     TORNADO          STURBRIDGE              42.10N  72.06W
06/01/2011                   WORCESTER          MA   AMATEUR RADIO

            AMATEUR RADIO REPORT OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN
            STURBRIDGE AT ROUTE 49A   

According to the National Climatic Data Center, since official records began in 1950, there have been 155 tornadoes in the state of Massachusetts. The most recent report prior to this year was on 07/23/2008, when a minimal F0 storm occurred in South Swansea, causing an estimated $15K in damages. The last tornado to cause over $1 million in damage was an F2 storm in Franklin on 08/21/2004. The most recent F4 tornado was in N. Egremont, Berkshire County, on 05/29/1995. That storm caused 3 deaths and 24 injuries.

There have been a total of 11 tornadoes with magnitude F3 or higher in Massachusetts, of which 3 were F4. The F4 tornadoes included the N. Egremont storm, the infamous Worcester storm of 06/09/1953, and a Berkshire County storm on 08/28/1973.

Of the total 102 deaths caused by tornadoes in Massachusetts, the vast majority (90) were in the Worcester F4 storm.

Hundred-Year Record Montana Rainfall Leads to Missouri River Flooding

Image (click to enlarge): Montana precipitation percentage of normal for 14 days ending 8 am EDT, May 31, from National Weather Service.

Record rainfall in Montana through the second half of May is threatening serious flooding on the Missouri River downstream into the Dakotas, Iowa, and Nebraska. Large portions of southeastern Montana have had rainfall as much as 600% of normal for the 14 days ending May 31.

From May 10 through the 25th, all-time May daily rainfall records were set at 10 locations in Montana. At Billings, where records extend back 76 years, the 3.12" on the 24th broke the previous May daily record of 2.83" set in 1952. Another 1952 record was broken at Livingston with 2.08" on the 24th. Two hundred-year records, originally set on May 26, 1911, were broken at Sidney with 2.42" and Ryegate with 2.21".

The 6.98" at Glasgow, Montana through this morning is a new monthly record for May, exceeding the 6.61" in 2007, and is 5.26" above the normal for the month. Glasgow climate records extend back to 1893.

NOAA/National Weather Service Updates Joplin Tornado Report, Track Map

Image (click to enlarge): Joplin tornado track, May 22, 2011, from National Weather Service. The numbers in the triangles represent Enhanced Fujita (EF) tornado intensity levels. For an interactive version of the Google map, click here.


Video (click to play): Driving tour of the Joplin tornado path, from CNN

June 10 Update: The death toll from the Joplin tornado was increased to 151 today.

Original post:
The National Weather Service late Sunday afternoon updated its report on the deadly Joplin tornado of May 22 based on surveys carried out in the past week:

* DATE...22 MAY 2011  
* MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-5  
* ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...IN EXCESS OF 200 MPH  
* ESTIMATED PATH WIDTH...3/4 MILE  
* ESTIMATED PATH LENGTH...13.8 MILES  
* FATALITIES...130+  
* INJURIES...750+  

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ONE HALF MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE   
INTERSECTION OF JJ HIGHWAY AND NEWTON ROAD.  SEVERAL LARGE TREES   
WERE TOPPLED.  
  
THE TORNADO RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AS IT MOVED TOWARD THE INTERSECTION   
OF COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE AND 32ND STREET. 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.  A   
CHURCH SCHOOL HAD ALL BUT A PORTION OF ITS EXTERIOR WALLS DESTROYED.   
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A NURSING HOME WAS ALSO NOTED IN THIS AREA.  
  
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. 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.  
  
THE TORNADO CONTINUED DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES BEFORE WEAKENING AS   
IT TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD INTERSTATE 44.  THE DAMAGE PATH CONTINUED   
SOUTHEAST FROM JOPLIN TO APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF DIAMOND.  

NOAA Researcher Harold Brooks Interviewed on 2011 Tornado Season

The PBS program "Need to Know" on May 27 interviewed Harold Brooks, a tornado researcher at NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). Brooks agreed that 2011 has been an exceptional year for tornado activity, but said that his research has been widely misquoted (click to play).

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Mounting Tornado Count Includes 2 Multiple Rare Californina Storms

Image (click to enlarge): Tornado touching down near Durham, California, 8 miles SSW of Chico, from KCRA-TV.

Midnight Update: The preliminary daily tornado count has increased to 77, including 7 in northern California.

Original post:
Following outbreaks earlier today in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, the preliminary daily tornado count has increased to 68. This includes 2 relatively rare northern California storms in Glenn County, north of Sacramento, in the past hour:

.TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON  
.DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.  
            ..REMARKS..  
  
0512 PM     TORNADO          1 ENE WILLOWS           39.52N 122.18W  
05/25/2011                   GLENN              CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            GLENN COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED A TORNADO NORTHEAST OF   
            WILLOWS NEAR COUNTY ROAD 36 AND U STREET.  
  
0518 PM     TORNADO          2 S HAMILTON CITY       39.71N 122.01W  
05/25/2011                   GLENN              CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
            GLENN COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED A TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF   
            HAMILTON CITY.    

The bulk of the activity has moved eastward into Illinois, Indiana, and northern Mississippi.

The preliminary monthly tornado total for May now stands at 255.

Multiple Tornadoes in Kansas City Area; Funnel Clouds Near St. Louis

4:50 PM CDT Update: Mega-hail (near softball-size):

0442 PM     HAIL             ST. LOUIS               38.64N  90.24W
05/25/2011  E4.50 INCH       ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

            BASEBALL TO SOFTBALL SIZE HAIL ON SOUTH SIDE OF CITY.

0420 PM     HAIL             ST. LOUIS               38.64N  90.24W
05/25/2011  M3.50 INCH       ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR I44 AND KINGSHIGHWAY  

0440 PM     HAIL             ST. LOUIS               38.64N  90.24W
05/25/2011  E2.75 INCH       ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   PUBLIC

            ON SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY CAMPUS...RELAYED BY
            METEOROLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS.

4:40 PM CDT Update: Tornado south of St. Louis:

0433 PM     TORNADO          5 SSW FREDERICKTOWN     37.50N  90.33W
05/25/2011                   MADISON            MO   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TORNADO NEAR MILL CREEK PICKING UP DEBRIS MOVING NORTH
            NORTHEAST.  

4:30 PM CDT Update: Baseball-size hail:

0429 PM     HAIL             AFFTON                  38.55N  90.33W
05/25/2011  E2.75 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD ALSO OBSERVED TO THE EAST

0422 PM     HAIL             SUNSET HILLS            38.54N  90.42W
05/25/2011  M3.00 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            OBLONG 3 INCH HAIL. 

4:15 PM CDT Update: More reports, including ping-pong size hail:

0412 PM     HAIL             CADET                   37.99N  90.69W
05/25/2011  E1.75 INCH       WASHINGTON         MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0412 PM     HAIL             MEHLVILLE               38.50N  90.32W
05/25/2011  E1.75 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MO   PUBLIC

            AT LEMAY AND LINDBERGH.

0409 PM     HAIL             OAKVILLE                38.44N  90.32W
05/25/2011  E1.50 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL SIZE INCREASED QUICKLY FROM QUARTERS TO PING PONG
            BALLS.

0409 PM     WALL CLOUD       POTOSI                  37.94N  90.78W
05/25/2011                   WASHINGTON         MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0403 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BYRNES MILL             38.44N  90.57W
05/25/2011                   JEFFERSON          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER WAS LOOKING SOUTHEAST.

0403 PM     HAIL             POTOSI                  37.94N  90.78W
05/25/2011  E1.75 INCH       WASHINGTON         MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0404 PM     WALL CLOUD       NW ROODHOUSE            39.48N  90.37W
05/25/2011                   GREENE             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

0403 PM     HAIL             1 S CARLINVILLE         39.27N  89.88W
05/25/2011  E1.50 INCH       MACOUPIN           IL   AMATEUR RADIO

0401 PM     HAIL             IMPERIAL                38.37N  90.38W
05/25/2011  E1.50 INCH       JEFFERSON          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0401 PM     WALL CLOUD       5 W ROBERTSVILLE        38.41N  90.91W
05/25/2011                   FRANKLIN           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0355 PM     HAIL             3 N BUNKER HILL         39.08N  89.95W
05/25/2011  E1.50 INCH       MACOUPIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR INTERSECTION OF HWY 138 AND 159 

3:30 PM CDT Update: There have been several reports of funnel clouds and rotating wall clouds in the St. Louis area:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     ST. LOUIS               38.64N  90.24W
05/25/2011                   ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   911 CALL CENTER

            WALL CLOUD WITH POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD ROTATING FROM
            I-55 SOUTHBOUND ABOUT 4 MILES NORTH OF LOCATION.

0319 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BRENTWOOD               38.62N  90.35W
05/25/2011                   ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OBSERVED AT BRENTWOOD MANCHESTER...LOOKING NORTH TOWARD
            GALLERIA MALL.

0323 PM     WALL CLOUD       CLAYTON                 38.64N  90.33W
05/25/2011                   ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WALL CLOUD WITH ROTATION AT I-170 AND LADUE ROAD.

0316 PM     WALL CLOUD       KIRKWOOD                38.58N  90.42W
05/25/2011                   ST. LOUIS          MO   PUBLIC  

Numerous tornado warnings are in effect throughout eastern Missouri.

2:30 PM CDT Update: Aerial views of storm damage from NBC Action News in Kansas City indicate an EF-2 or EF-3 tornado:


Total daily tornado count is up to 20.

2:15 PM CDT Update: The Missouri Highway Patrol reports significant damage in a 4-block area of Sedalia, including a house blown off its foundation; no serious injuries.

The focus of attention for later today shifts eastward in Missouri, toward St. Louis.

1:30 PM CDT Update: Fortunately, the immediate Kansas City area appears to have escaped significant damage from this batch of storms, but the Pettis County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department is investigating damage and injuries from the Sedalia tornado. The daily report total is up to 15.

1 PM CDT Update: A tornado was reported at 12:22 pm CDT, 1 mile southeast of Sedalia, Missouri by law enforcement:

            SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS HOMES AND
            BUSINESSES...TANKER TRUCK OVERTURNED...UNKNOWN NUMBER OF
            INJURIES 

The daily report total is now 10.

Original post:
At least 4 tornado touchdowns or funnel clouds were reported around noon local time in the Kansas City area today. They were in Johnson, Jackson and Cass counties of Kansas and Missouri. This brings the preliminary tornado report count for today to 7.

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1206 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 E KANSAS CITY         39.12N 94.50W
05/25/2011                   JACKSON            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL NEAR EAST OF ROYALS STADIUM

1138 AM     TORNADO          OVERLAND PARK           38.91N 94.68W
05/25/2011                   JOHNSON            KS   PUBLIC

            TORNADO AT EXIT 224 ON I-35 OVERLAND PARK

1135 AM     TORNADO          HARRISONVILLE           38.66N 94.35W
05/25/2011                   CASS               MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND SOUTHEAST
            OF HARRISONVILLE

1122 AM     TORNADO          OVERLAND PARK           38.91N 94.68W
05/25/2011                   JOHNSON            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TORNADO ON GROUND 135 AND METCALF