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More than 60 tornadoes struck US Midwest leaving a trail of destruction

more-than-60-tornadoes-struck-us-midwest-leaving-trail-of-destruction

According to the National Weather Service, more than 60 tornadoes struck US Midwest on Sunday, November 17, 2013, leaving a trail of destruction and unleashing 130 km (80 mph) winds and hailstones up to 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter. Entire neighborhoods were flattened within seconds. Forecasters said the extreme weather could affect more than 50 million people.

Tornadoes, triggered by a fast-moving weather system, touched down in as many as 10 states. Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin were buffeted by the storm, which weakened as it tracked east towards Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Illinois was struck the hardest where at least six were killed and dozens more injured. With communications difficult and many roads impassable, it remained unclear how many people might be hurt.

Meteorologist Matt Friedlein said such powerful storms rarely occur so late in the year because the climate is usually too cold.

However, temperatures had been forecast to climb to as high as 26C (78F), he said, which is warm enough to produce severe weather when coupled with strong winter winds. (SKY)

Latest NWS discussion issued at 08:59 UTC on Monday, November 18th:

The same cold front that rocked the Ohio Valley with severe weather on Sunday will quickly push through the Eastern Seaboard early Monday. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to light up ahead of the boundary…but the widespread severe weather threat with this system has diminished.

Strong and gusty winds across the Great Lakes and Northeast should gradually relax as the wrapped up anchoring surface low lifts farther into Canada and the cold front clears the Atlantic coast Monday evening.

Behind the system…some light lake enhanced rain and snow showers will be possible downwind of the Great Lakes. Farther south…the tail end of the boundary will stall out and linger over the Gulf of Mexico…bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms across Florida and along the Gulf Coast the next few days. Elsewhere…high pressure filling in behind the front will bring cooler and drier air into the eastern half of the Nation for the start of the work week.

Conditions will become increasingly wet across the Western U.S. during the short range period as a Pacific front moves onshore on Monday and drops southeastward on Tuesday. The front will trigger widespread shower activity across much of the northwestern corner of the country…with moderate to heavy rains expected along the Pacific Northwest/Northern California coasts and accumulating snows anticipated for the Washington Cascades and Northern Rockies.

Featured image: LiveLeak video screenshot

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6 Comments

  1. AR1897 unleashed moderate M1.4 solar flare back on November 13 caused these storms to happen. The watcher should start connecting the dots and tell us how these storms are solar driven.

  2. "Solar activity is generally lower during Mini-Ice-Age's and so the relative changes in activity and more specifically magnetic connectivity are more dramatic and with the generally wild jet stream make these extreme storms and superstorms more frequent world-wide.

  3. " Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin were buffered by the storm"

    I'm confused, did they mean those states were 'buffeted' by the storm? Buffer means to lessen or absorb shock.

    It must be a typo?

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