Category: Weather

We were hit with a major storm last night. And this time we didn’t escape damage.

I had taken my camera out just before the tornado alert sounded. It’s gotten so I can tell when it’s going to ring. However, as I was doing my usual, taking pictures of the storm clouds, I got hit with a wall of winds that have now been estimated to be 90MPH. Strong enough to throw me around a bit, and do a lot of damage to our area.

Several transformers blew up. For some reason, probably too many storms and too much time facing one direction, I thought our lines were buried. But no, they aren’t. But they are hidden nicely in the tress.

Well, they were hidden nicely in the trees.

But these Missouri folk. Every time they would test the power in our area, one of the transformers would make an awful noise and throw out a huge flash and spark. Last night, a party of people spontaneously formed beneath it, and every time they’d try the power, and the transformer would do its thing, the crowd would applaud.

The police were great–maintaining a presence in the neighborhood to reassure people. The power people were great–over 140,000 were without power last night, but at least 100,000 have had their power restored tonight. Including us.

I have some pictures, but I had neglected to charge my camera batteries, so I don’t have as many on the aftermath. Any good ones, I’ll add to this post, when I can recharge my camera long enough to load into my computer.

There’s also flooding along Big Muddy, and other rivers.

You know, I’ve had just about as much weather fun as I can handle for the week. The ride was great, but I think it’s time to end.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard the tornado alarm tonight. The sky didn’t look that bad. The problem is that the storms always come from the back of us so we can’t see the storms coming.

Tonight’s was not fun. Tonight’s was, frankly, scary. At one point the lightning and rain and winds were so strong, I thought we were in the path of the twister. The water was over a foot in parts of the parking lot. We didn’t get hail tonight, though.

They say that you can hear a tornado coming, it sounds like a train. But how can you hear it coming when the thunder is continuous, not to mention the tornado alert and the alarms of the fire engines and police? That’s the worse – not being able to see what’s happening. All you can do is listen.

Twisters did touch down with this storm. They just said that one touched down at Grey Summit–that’s where I walk in Shaw’s Nature Reserve. More alarms just now. Our power lines are buried, so we still have power. Illinois is getting hammered. And to the south.

I think we should create a Tornado watch syndication feed. Maybe something we can ping if our area gets hit. Hear from other people sharing in the fun. I sure wouldn’t mind talking with people who’ve been through a tornado – what do they really sound like?

More storm pictures. Damn, they just issued another tornado watch. And DeSoto just got another tornado. I remember:

 

“Why worry”, she said. “Worry just makes you look old.”

I bet that movie, The Day After does really well throughout the Midwest. They couldn’t have planned better promotion.

Sirens just went off. Neighbor said tornado spotted. According to weather reports, we’re in the path.

Maybe the tornado will chase me…

Update

The storm hit. The alarm went off twice. The neighbors ducked into their bathrooms.

But me and Zoe were brave. We faced the storm. We stood our ground, even when the lightning blasted through the complex and waters rushed through. When the birds flocked away, and the wind chimes rang out. Even when I was soaked to the skin, and then became truly wet. Just to get photos for you, dear readers. Just to get photos for you.

By the way, I’m mobloging this from Oz. The Wiz says hi. She gave me a new pair of ruby sneakers, so I guess pink is the new black. However, she said I can click my heels together till my feet are bruised and bloody, but I can damn well get my own butt home.

And would I please move the house from on top of Dave Winer?

We just got another major thunderstorm alert–the third in four days; plus flooding and an occasional tornado warning. I’ll take pictures of any funnel clouds heading this way. Really. Honest. I’m not going to be a scaredy baby diving for shelter when I can have a chance to take a tornado picture for you all.

The thunderstorms have been the worst I’ve seen, before or after moving to Missouri. Yesterday afternoon the sound was so bad, and everything was shaking so much, that all I wanted to do was join Zoe hiding under the bed. The hail hit the roof and the windows so hard that at one point, I thought one of the windows was cracked. I expect hail damage to Golden Girl this year, because all indications are, it’s going to be a long, stormy summer.

Speaking of which, I’ve traded cars with my roommate for the summer. I get better gas mileage, and this helps with his longish commute. He has an eleven year old van that’s been through the wars, and I’m looking to do a little tornado chasing this year.

I’ve been studying the meteorology on tornadoes for two years, in addition to the behavior of storms in Missuori, and I’m ready to give it a shot; at least, locally. I’ve always loved weather, and I need a little adventure in my life.

Scratch that–I need a lot of adventure in my life.

Of course, we have to discount the fact that yesterday I was ready to hide under the bed with my cat.