Had an interesting note from John Brasher... who was at the NWS radar site near Centreville on May 27, 1973 when a powerful tornado rolled through. Thought you might like to read his story:
Hey James,
As a photographer/reporter from the Centreville Press, I was at Centreville radar when the May 27, 1973 storm struck that facility. When the roof went, the two NWS guys and I jumped beside a desk in an office adjacent to the radar room. The radar dish was blown from its tower, landing about 20 feet or so away from the room we dove into.
No one at the radar site took refuge in a ditch Just wanted to mention that.
Shortly after first identifying the echo near Greenesboro, Dale Black, who was radar operator that day until being literally knocked off the "air", plotted the tornado's projected path. I remember vividly Dale looking up from the scope and saying if the tornado didn't break up, it would pass right over us. The echo was very large and well defined. I also remember the three of us walking outside shortly after tornado warnings were posted and about 30 minutes before the storm hit us. Comments were made about how the steady wind from the southwest felt like it was coming from a "blast furnace". And the "sweet" smell of fresh cut hay or something similar. I have never forgotten the feel of the air in advance of that tornado.
Hey James,
As a photographer/reporter from the Centreville Press, I was at Centreville radar when the May 27, 1973 storm struck that facility. When the roof went, the two NWS guys and I jumped beside a desk in an office adjacent to the radar room. The radar dish was blown from its tower, landing about 20 feet or so away from the room we dove into.
No one at the radar site took refuge in a ditch Just wanted to mention that.
Shortly after first identifying the echo near Greenesboro, Dale Black, who was radar operator that day until being literally knocked off the "air", plotted the tornado's projected path. I remember vividly Dale looking up from the scope and saying if the tornado didn't break up, it would pass right over us. The echo was very large and well defined. I also remember the three of us walking outside shortly after tornado warnings were posted and about 30 minutes before the storm hit us. Comments were made about how the steady wind from the southwest felt like it was coming from a "blast furnace". And the "sweet" smell of fresh cut hay or something similar. I have never forgotten the feel of the air in advance of that tornado.
on May 13, 2005, 6:15 pm
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