Day four of a never-ending tornado outbreak is underway as storms start to fire up in west-central Texas and Oklahoma.
This is the seventh diary I've written on the weather in the last 48 hours, so you guys know the drill by now. I'll update the title as needed, keeping in place the "TORNADO LIVEBLOG" so you know it's still the same diary. I'll add "PART II" if needed later this evening.
Updates are in reverse chronological order. I'll post all updates here, but the most urgent ones will be duplicated over on my Facebook page. All times in this liveblog are Central Time unless otherwise stated. Scroll below the squiggle for important links.
UPDATE 4 305PM CT:
The storms aren't much anymore. Risk for severe weather around DFW metro is dropping like a rock.
In other news, NWS Norman just rated the Moore tornado an EF-5.
UPDATE 3 203PM CT:
Severe thunderstorm warnings for Fort Worth and Dallas. 60-70 MPH winds are likely as these storms come through.
UPDATE 2 147PM CT:
70+ MPH winds are moving along the outflow of a broken line of storms sweeping through the northern Dallas suburbs. A 73 MPH wind was recorded at the Denton Airport a little while ago.
UPDATE 1 105PM CT:
Not much in the way of severe weather right now. There are some severe thunderstorm warnings in southern Oklahoma, but everything else is just heavy thunderstorm activity. Let's hope it stays like that.
I know many of you are interested in the iMapWeather Radio app for iPhone and Android. News9 Oklahoma is offering the app for FREE for iPhones only (discrimination against us Droid users!).
IPHONE USERS:
-Download the News9 Weather App from the iTunes Store
-Tap the "Partner Codes" link at the bottom of the app, and enter "GARY" in the box. Your iMapWeather Radio download should start.
Android Users:
-Type in "iMapWeather Radio" into the Google Play Store and it should be the first result. The app is half price -- $4.99 -- through the 23rd (this Thursday).
I highly recommend downloading it, if you've got the five bucks to get it. It's worth it. The app detects your location and automatically sounds a loud tone when a warning is issued for your location.
INITIAL UPDATE 1205PM CT:
Here are the watches currently in effect. Both watches are in effect until 700PM CT.
The tornado watch is the most urgent. A few violent, long-lived tornadoes are possible, but hopefully we won't see anything like yesterday. Very large hail up to the size of tennis balls are also possible, along with winds in excess of 80 MPH.
This severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for most of the southern half of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City but not including Tulsa. Damaging winds up to 70 MPH and hail larger the golf balls is possible.
And here's the radar as of 1204PM CT. Storms are just severe for now. No tornadoes yet.
National Weather Service Main Page
National Weather Service -- Central Oklahoma
National Weather Service -- Tulsa OK
National Weather Service -- Dallas/Ft Worth Area
National Weather Service -- San Angelo, TX
National Weather Service -- Shreveport LA
National Weather Service -- Arkansas (whole state)
Storm Prediction Center Main Page
Storm Prediction Center -- Current Severe Weather Watches
Storm Prediction Center -- Convective (Severe Weather) Outlooks
Storm Prediction Center -- Mesoscale Discussions
Storm Prediction Center -- Storm Reports
Storm Prediction Center -- Mesoscale Analysis Pages
Wunderground's Detailed Radar (click the + nearest to you to see your local radar)
NOAA Weather Models
TwisterData.com's excellent GFS/NAM/RAP model website.
ChaserTV-- live streaming video from storm chasers.
News9 in Oklahoma City provides extremely thorough severe weather coverage. This is Gary England's station -- the pioneers of on-screen weather warnings and chasing tornadoes with helicopters. Their efforts, along with those of storm chasers, have saved thousands of lives.
WFAA out of Dallas will carry live streaming coverage if/when tornado warnings are issued.
I'll continuously post updates to my Facebook page on this and most other major severe weather outbreaks.
More ways to help can be found at the Moore Recovers website.