Saturday Tornadoes Across the Nation's Midsection

Tornadoes were reported over parts of the Midwest on Saturday, but fortunately there were no major injuries or fatalities.

At least 18 tornado reports were received yesterday through the overnight hours.

Storm Chaser Shane Adams described the tornado near Beatrice, Nebraska as a large, truncated cone with lots of debris. This was the most significant tornado of the day apparently caused dome damage, but no injuries. Storm Chaser Matt Patterson posted this excellent video of the tornado. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdI71EYVr8c.

It was a scary time for awhile as storms bore down on the Lincoln area where the Nebraska Cornhuskers were playing their Spring Football Game, but fortunately the worst of the storms passed to their south. Storm chasers were frustrated by heavy traffic on the interstate between Lincoln and Omaha.

Tornado touchdowns were reported in Northeast Kansas, but major damage was not reported. A man in Brown County, KS reportedly called the NWS saying that a tornado had passed directly over his house, taking the roof with it.

An amazing supercell skirted the northern part of Kansas City, Missouri around 8 p.m. Severe reports of funnel clouds and tornado touchdowns were noted with this long lived storm. But checks of Kansas City media outlets this morning reveal no significant reports of damage or injuries.

Severe weather is possible over a wide area from eastern Missouri and Iowa across much of Illinois, Inidiana, Kentucky, west Virginia, southern Ohio and then southeastward across Virginia and North Carolina. An upper level trough will be the culprit, turning southeastward around the periphery of a large upper level trough anchored over the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

Interesting to see the NWS in Omaha frequently using the call to action in their warnings that people should not use highway overpasses as tornado shelters. They do not provide adequate shelter and can block traffic lanes, turning interstates into deathtraps for others. One place you do not want to be in a tornado is in an automobile.

Another interesting note: a Weather Chanel photo crew was arrested for failing to leave the site where a McMinnville, Tennessee woman died in last Friday's tornado. The victim's family said that they refused to leave after numerous requests. It is unclear if they were actual Weather Chanel staffers or contract photojournalists. Covering the news is important, but sensitivity to victims is paramount, in my humble opinion.
Posted by Bonner  
on April 16, 2006, 8:10 am
Bill, I think one of the Weather Channel crew that was arrested was an On-Air Personnel, Jorma Duran (sp?).

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Posted by   www
on April 16, 2006, 8:35 am
More cool video of this storm system can be found here.
http://www.tornadoeskick.com/blog.html

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Posted by   www
on April 16, 2006, 10:51 am
Courtesy: CNN

McMINNVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- Three members of a video team for The Weather Channel have been charged with trespassing for allegedly refusing to leave the property of a Warren County, Tennessee, woman who was killed by a tornado.

Edward John Lazano Jr., Bradley Reynolds and Jorma Brandon Duran were freed on $500 bail each after their arrests Wednesday, The Southern Standard reported. Calls seeking comment Saturday from the Warren County sheriff's office were not immediately returned.

They allegedly were videotaping on the property of Sherry Bruce, who was killed when storms struck the area on April 7.

"There are eight no trespassing signs posted on the property," Bruce's brother-in-law, Lynn Boren, wrote in warrants filed against the video team. "They were asked at least six times over 30 minutes to leave."

Sheriff Jackie Matheny denied reports that he gave them permission to be on the property.

"If they say they were given permission by me, they are telling a big one. Plus I'd have no authority to tell them that since it's private property," Matheny said.

There was no response to calls seeking comment Friday from Weather Channel spokeswoman Kathleen Lane.

"While we cannot comment on legal proceedings, we are upset and saddened this family suffered the loss of one of its members," she told the Southern Standard on Thursday.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/15/reporters.arrested.ap/index.html



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