Remembering the Joplin Tornado

I would like to take a moment tonight to remember the victims of the EF- 5 multi-vortex tornado that tore through Joplin, MO on May, 22 2011. The tornado touched down at approximately 5:34 PM traveling 22 miles and causing roughly 2.8 billion dollars in damage.  The tornado destroyed over 7000 homes not including businesses and public buildings.  Wind speeds over 200 mph left many dead and over 1,000 injured as the mile wide tornado tore through town. This tornado currently holds the record as the deadliest tornado the United States has seen since the Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornadoes in 1947, and comes in seventh on the list of deadliest tornados overall. It also ranks as the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.

The National Weather Service In Pleasant Hill Has Issued A
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For...
Southeastern Johnson County In East Central Kansas...
Northwestern Cass County In West Central Missouri...
Southwestern Jackson County In West Central Missouri...
* Until 815 Pm Cdt
* At 734 Pm Cdt...A Severe Thunderstorm Was Located Near Belton...
Moving Northeast At 35 Mph.
Hazard...Golf Ball Size Hail And 60 Mph Wind Gusts.
Source...Radar Indicated.
Impact...People And Animals Outdoors Will Be Injured. Expect Hail Damage To Roofs...Siding...Windows...And Vehicles. Expect Wind Damage To Roofs...Siding...And Trees.
* Locations Impacted Include...
Kansas City...Overland Park...Olathe...Independence...
Lee`s Summit...Blue Springs...Leawood...Raytown...Grandview...
Belton...Raymore...Pleasant Hill...Greenwood...Lake Lotawana...
Lake Winnebago...Lone Jack...Lake Tapawingo...Unity Village...
Stanley And Stillwell.
This Includes The Following Highways...
Interstate 70 In Missouri Between Mile Markers 12 And 18.
Interstate 470 Between Mile Markers 0 And 16.
Interstate 435 Between Mile Markers 67 And 76.
Hail...1.75in Wind...60mph

The National Weather Service In Pleasant Hill Has Issued A
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For...
Eastern Johnson County In East Central Kansas...
North Central Miami County In East Central Kansas...
Northwestern Cass County In West Central Missouri...
Southwestern Jackson County In West Central Missouri...
* Until 745 Pm Cdt
* At 711 Pm Cdt...A Severe Thunderstorm Was Located Near Spring Hill...Moving Northeast At 55 Mph.
Hazard...60 Mph Wind Gusts And Quarter Size Hail.
Source...Radar Indicated.
Impact...Hail Damage To Vehicles Is Expected. Expect Wind Damage To Roofs...Siding...And Trees.
* Locations Impacted Include...
Kansas City...Overland Park...Olathe...Shawnee...Lenexa...
Leawood...Grandview...Belton...Raymore...Gardner...Spring Hill...
Lake Quivira...Clare...Bucyrus...Stanley...Stillwell And Lackmans.
This Includes The Following Highways...
Interstate 35 In Kansas Between Mile Markers 209 And 226.
Interstate 435 Between Mile Markers 0 And 7...And Between Mile Markers 76 And 83.
Hail...1.00in Wind...60mph

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch effective until 1AM  for the highlighted areas.

* Primary threats include...
     Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events up to 2.5" possible.
     Isolated damaging wing gusts up to 70mph possible.
     A tornado or two possible.

   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

   * TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
     SOUTHERN IOWA
     EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS
     NORTHWEST MISSOURI

   * EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 210 PM UNTIL
     1000 PM CDT.

   * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
     A FEW TORNADOES LIKELY WITH A COUPLE INTENSE TORNADOES POSSIBLE
     WIDESPREAD LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2.5
       INCHES IN DIAMETER LIKELY
     SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH EFFECTIVE FROM 11PM UNTIL 4AM

PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
     SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2
       INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE
     ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE
     A TORNADO OR TWO POSSIBLE

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has issued severe thunderstorm watch #208 effective until 5 AM Wednesday, May 25th 2016.
Primary threats  include...
     Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 MPH likely with isolated hail up to 1.75" possible.
     Though I don't expect to see a tornado in the area tonight it is a possibility with these storms.