Tornado!

[Music] striking swiftly passing in only seconds the tornado leaves behind it a path of incredible destruction and all too often death one of the most violent acts of nature it is a major concern of the National Weather Service part of NOAA the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration these are the danger signs where the violent turbulence of the thunderstorm is the spawning ground of tornadoes [Music] there is little it can be done today to lessen their destructive force but much is being done to predict and warn of their approach in open countryside the degree of danger from tornadoes is less homes are widely distributed but as we become more and more in urbanized society the odds are greater for tornadoes touching down in populated areas and inflicting heavy damage on people and property at the same time those of us who live in and around our towns and cities often do not have unobstructed views of the horizon we are hemmed in we are crowded together we cannot see or hear a tornado coming for that reason we are more dependent on a warning system that alerts us when tornadoes approach tells us how to minimize damage to our property and reduce the risk of injury or even death part of that system is the national severe storms forecast center in Kansas City Missouri the focal point for NOAA's nationwide severe storm warning network in a given year more than 600 tornadoes can be expected to touch down in the United States any place at any time day or night it's the job of the severe storm forecasters in Kansas City to keep on the lookout for that special combination of weather conditions known to cause severe thunderstorms and tornadoes around the clock the watch is kept whether information is received from all parts of the country temperature pressure humidity wind the data fed into computers and digested reappear printed on maps of the United States not just one map but five representing five elevations up to 40,000 feet plus the severe storms forecaster has a three-dimensional view of the flow of forces that make up our weather each morning the night shift forecaster breached the Dayman on the outlook for the next 24 hours late reports projected to this map show thunderstorm activity is expected on a line across the southern central United States and there is a good chance some of the storms can be severe a low pressure system moving eastward is drawing in a tongue of warm exceptionally moist surface air from the Gulf of Mexico with low-level very dry hot air from the southwest and cold dry surface air from the north all on a collision course when these out of balance air masses meet the reaction will be violent how violent it is this forecasters job to find out as the morning progresses he orders additional upper air temperature soundings sharp temperature drops above the warm moist surface air can indicate the formation of a very severe storm [Music] later in the morning the information arrives back at the forecast center above the huge airmass the temperature drop is considerable local reports show a line of growing cumulus clouds radar scopes are beginning to pick them up a severe storm is in the making and now a new danger must be considered 11:20 an urgent request is made for high altitude jet aircraft in flight reports of winds along the jet stream reports through the FAA air route traffic control system show 150 knothead winds at 37,000 feet ahead of the storm's path the stage is set the hot dry air mass meets the moist Gulf air a squall line forms turbulence grows as the cold front moves in as these storms move into the influence of the strong jet aloft they can become more intense these are the ingredients needed to trigger tornadoes the forecaster estimates that in about three hours a line of towering thunderstorms will converge on this area some will be of tornado intensity a final check of his data then he moves into action a tornado watch is transmitted to alert all points in the threatened area many miles away in this unsuspecting community there is no thought that trouble might be brewing beyond the horizon the storm clouds are still far away and life goes on as usual [Music] everything is normal except at the local Weather Service office there the word has been received there is a possibility of tornadoes in the area later in the day 1213 the meteorologist in charge sets into action a pre-arranged emergency watch public officials are contacted law enforcement agencies emergency and civil defense forces newspapers radio and television stations we interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special tornado bulletins from The Weather Service severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes may be expected in the city at all of Carson County this afternoon between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 a tornado watch is now in effect we repeat a tornado watch is now in effect a tornado watch is no cause for immediate alarm overhead the sky may still be blue the watch is issued to alert you to the possibility of tornados and let you begin taking precautions to protect yourself and your property if and when a tornado is actually spotted moving toward you only if a tornado is sighted will a tornado warning be sounded this will be the signal to take cover these familiar things can become deadly missiles in tornado winds small portable items should be moved indoors flying debris is a major cause of injuries and deaths in tornados 1:27 in the surrounding countryside volunteer observers are standing by filling station operators farmers policemen people who normally work out of doors their job scan the horizon look for a funnel cloud reported immediately to the weather service or police at the Weather Service office radar probed the distant skies giving a picture of the approaching storm 1:45 p.m. the tornado watch goes on in the community people are alert but normal activity continues [Music] now the squall line is visible on the horizon the volunteer observers watch it move in they are the eyes for the whole community 3:06 the storm is closing fast hailstones and ominous sign of extreme cloud turbulence then the radar picks up a suspicious echo it could mean tornado the funnel cloud is spotted tornado confirm it The Weather Service is notified the warning goes out [Music] we interrupt this program to bring you an official weather service tornado warning issued for this area leave your radio or television turned on we repeat this is an official tornado warning all persons are urged to take shelter immediately and observe safety precautions open windows or doors to equalize air pressure inside and outside the house but take cover away from windows [Music] in homes with basements go below and stay below ground level today away from windows [Music] without basements get under a piece of heavy furniture or dead shelter in a closet near the center of the house people living in trailers to take cover in a nearby reinforced building or below ground level a storm cellar if available is the best possible shelter anyone in an automobile in the path of the funnel should leave the car and get into a ditch or ravine if you are caught in the open live flat and cover exposed portions of the head and body make a small target as possible we repeat take shelter immediately the funnel is now reported in motor mail you've seen the funnel for everything was just green and it was just an awful rumble and rhomboid you seem to go the whole house just collapse down around after that I just drove under the desk up there and though it's sealing off in a minute two minutes later everything was over and then when I got up I was wringing wet and my hair was so full of my mouth was so full that my eyes were so full of insulation and I looked at my husband and I said were alive the tornado has passed capricious swift savage for the indifferent or the skeptical the penalties can well be tragic [Applause] [Music] survival depends on heeding the warnings knowing what to do and having the time to do it the tornado watch gives time to plan the warning time to act and planned action can keep the toll in dead and injured to a minimum at NOAA the vigil goes on skilled men used every means at their command to give you the precious gift of time searching for danger signs beyond the horizon in a constant effort to guard you against the Gathering Storm [Music] [Music]