Stories of wind, tornadoes, and other weather this year...

[knightgf]

Man, I must admit, the weather across for you guys in the United States has been unusually more active than usual this year. In particular, I find that the eastern half of the United States has been just absolutely battered with tornadoes and windstorms this year, as well as record-setting flooding in some spots. It's unlike anything I've ever seen in my life, and to that end, I am sure no doubt some of you may have stories to share about the weather. Do you have any stories to share about anything weather-related that's effected you this year?

On Monday, September 23rd, the area experienced a unusual severe weather event. Nothing could have predicted what would happen that night. After covering for one of my co-workers so they can take their break, I looked outside and noticed a unusual formation of clouds outside. One of my co-workers joked it was a funnel cloud, and while I realized it probably wasn't from the distance it was at, it sure looked odd. As it came closer and closer to our work, it came closer to the ground, and I think it had some rotation. The cloud looked white. I thought I was losing my marbles and thought, "It's nothing really, just some weird clouds, focus and get back to work." But I couldn't take my eye off it because it looked odd and was probably dangerous. Well, the next thing I knew, the back door sounded like it wanted to be opened, and the air was being sucked out. At the same time, the guy in the break room heard the air being sucked out of the air ducts, and it started raining really good, or at least, that's what I thought I heard.

Next thing I knew, I get a radio call for someone to come up front, and I immediately rushed up there, because I knew something was wrong. And sure enough, the front automatic door was sucked out partially, all of the patio furniture on the southern end of the store was blown closer towards the parking lot, a table was just totally smashed and a umbrella was bent. In addition, one of the cement handicapped signs on the parking lot was tipped over, and carts were sucked out of the cart corral and blown all over the southern end of the parking lot. After helping to put all the furniture back in place, other people cleaned up the smashed table glass, and I ran out into the parking lot and got all the carts back in place. While all this was happening, it was pouring heavy rain, with nickel-sized hail mixed in and moderate winds. After we secured the carts and locked up the patio sets, we all went inside, and EVERYBODY was soaked. Heck, our manager that night bought a comb so they could fix their hair, lol, it was totally crazy. We were all wringing our clothes out, and using the dryers to try and get a bit dry.

It's rare for my city to experience tornadoes, or funnel clouds. Last year, our city got hit by a weak tornado that stuck in probably the rarest of places in all of the county: The coastline peninsula. It's probably been...oh heck...50 or more years since we last had a tornado before that? I have no idea, nor does probably anyone else. Sure, our county gets hit by tornadoes, but it's been a very, very long time since our city was impacted by a tornado. This year, we seemed to have been hit by either a funnel cloud or a microburst. When I got home that night, after dodging heavy rain and cloud-to-ground lightning, I learned that this thing I saw that night also destroyed a business by ripping off the roof. I guess you could say we got lucky all we lost was a table and umbrella. But overall, it was just a adrenaline rush to just run out in the parking lot, in pouring rain with some hail and wind mixed in, just to secure the patio furniture and the carts. I am both intrigued to see what this year will bring for all of us in terms of weather...and a bit frightened.

[Xenphire]

I actually live 30 miles north of Joplin, MO and I feel extremely lucky to have avoided what happened but sorrowful for the destruction wrought upon the area. The storm that dropped that tornado on Joplin was headed for where I live before it shifted south east. The town I live in is rather small and frankly if that storm hit here, there'd be nothing left, so I'm glad that my town was spared mother nature's wrath as there would have been zero chance of recovering, but that shouldn't suggest I'm anywhere near happy that it hit Joplin instead. The terrible irony of all this is that as a weather enthusiast it wasn't two weeks ago I was complaining about how little severe weather activity had come up for it being May (the peak month for tornadoes). Needless to say, I'll be thinking twice before complaining about a lack of severe weather for a long while to come.

[Top_Dog]

I actually live in Joplin, our house was just 5 blocks from the tornado. The sound of it passing by was LOUD. We were one of the lucky ones, only did without power for 2 days and water for just over 1.

The path of the tornado was surreal, one side of a street is trashed, homes and buildings and trees torn apart while the other side is only littered with debris. There is a clear and visible "path" that it took. Drive (where its possible atm) just a few blocks and it looks like a huge bomb went off as far as you can see.

Some of our friends lost everything but so far no one I know personally was hurt or killed.

Joplin had 1/3 of it leveled, familiar landmarks and favorite spots totally gone.

But the most amazing thing about all of this is the outpouring of support, people helping people. Literally people with no homes offering others clothes. Others driving around passing out food and water. Organizations in town taking donations have asked for people to stop donating, they have more than enough for now. It's just incredible.

[TrinityTurtle]

Man, I must admit, the weather across for you guys in the United States has been unusually more active than usual this year. In particular, I find that the eastern half of the United States has been just absolutely battered with tornadoes and windstorms this year, as well as record-setting flooding in some spots. It's unlike anything I've ever seen in my life, and to that end, I am sure no doubt some of you may have stories to share about the weather. Do you have any stories to share about anything weather-related that's effected you this year?

I live in the US, and yes, we have been rather battered in the last few years, but it seems to me like the weather and geological conditions have gone crazy globally in the last four years. Tornados, hurricans, earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, all sorts of crazy weather and disasters happening every year. We were always taught weather moves in cycles, and eventually this too shall pass. Hopefully for all of us.

As for me personally, we got REALLY lucky last night in Ohio. The clouds started rotating and forming the funnel over town, but it dissipated before reaching down and turning into a full fledged tornado thank goodness. I think it was a far closer call than I find comfortable, but I also understand that I'm lucky when I think about the tsunamie a few years ago in the pacific and the earthquakes in Japan recently because I and my whole town are are all still here intact.