The Ozarks experienced a bowing line segment of particularly large scale and strength this morning. Such a storm starts as a squall line and then under the right conditions will "bow" forward, creating a comma head at its northern end.
We actually had smaller bowing segments which formed a larger one this morning. The high wind warning was issued for winds on the back side of the "comma" which were actually stronger than the leading thunderstorms!
Tornadoes are often found near the comma head and back along the tail of the comma in smaller bowing segments. We know of one tornado in Republic this morning, confirmed in Laclede and possible in Texas and Howell counties as well.
We will be sifting through this information all day and have reports during our midday news at 11 am and of course our later shows!
FYI: a derecho is a long-lasting bowing segment which started here and is going to keep heading east all aftenoon. More information here. Ours was a progressive derecho.
Is there any reason I've only heard about very recently, starting with one that occurred recently in the SE United States? I saw from your link that they are not new, but is it just a matter of widespread knowledge of the condition or a new, suddenly more common, event?
ReplyDeleteAlso, what were the wind speeds in Springfield from the deracho today?
Thanks!
Matt
Matt,
ReplyDeleteBowing segments/derechos have been around for a while it's just that they're more common to the north and northeast during the late spring and summer. I'm from Chicago and I remember quite a few of these wind storms. In fact they had a bad one last summer:
http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_16650.html
I saw an hourly gust to 56 mph at the airport on Friday. As you know, there were measured gusts over eighty in the area.
Thanks for the response and info!
ReplyDelete