Do We Worry About Tornadoes?
Do We Worry About Tornadoes?
Wife and I have from May 28th to June 15th.off. Plan to "iron butt" it from Vancouver B.C. across interstate #90 ,through Rapid City and south on #35 between Minneapolis and Kansas city ----then pick up #44 and #40 west.
(just to see a bit more of "Route 66"". I see that there is about 75 tornadoes in the Illinois Kansas area in June according to the weather charts----- Is this a bad plan or is it the usual sunny in the morning, clouds building during the day and thunder storms in the afternoon like Sturgis and the southwest in August. Loaded question I know, but whats the weather like heading west from St.Louis crossing the prairies the first two weeks in June????
(just to see a bit more of "Route 66"". I see that there is about 75 tornadoes in the Illinois Kansas area in June according to the weather charts----- Is this a bad plan or is it the usual sunny in the morning, clouds building during the day and thunder storms in the afternoon like Sturgis and the southwest in August. Loaded question I know, but whats the weather like heading west from St.Louis crossing the prairies the first two weeks in June????
Last edited by Sanyasi; Mar 30, 2014 at 03:08 PM. Reason: pushed enter before finished
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 141
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
During the spring and summer there are 2 types of rain events in the Midwest. One of them is the low pressure system that makes for a rainy cloudy day/part of a day where it just kind of rains hard for a while. The other are the unstable convection systems that move through and can be dangerous. Check the listed site for convective outlooks and that will tell you what type of system is moving through.
When the tornados are at their worst there will be a pink and sometimes white area shown and that means there will be tornados to deal with so watch out. The big ones often happen in the afternoon, but can happen any time. The F-4 that went just west of our town started at 10:30 in the morning and then went on to destroy large parts of Washington, IL.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/
I wouldn't worry too much about them unless they are likely to happen that day. Most of them do not last long and aren't very big.
When the tornados are at their worst there will be a pink and sometimes white area shown and that means there will be tornados to deal with so watch out. The big ones often happen in the afternoon, but can happen any time. The F-4 that went just west of our town started at 10:30 in the morning and then went on to destroy large parts of Washington, IL.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/
I wouldn't worry too much about them unless they are likely to happen that day. Most of them do not last long and aren't very big.
Last edited by Texa$; Mar 30, 2014 at 03:48 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 17
From: Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Pay attention to the weather forcasts!!!
I live in Oklahoma and have all my life. We are considered Tornado Alley. Just ask those that live in Moore, Ok. if you don't believe it. As a matter of fact, I'm in OKC right now and as we were driving through Moore today, we thought we would eat at a favorite bbq place. Turned on 4th street and thought I was lost. Well long story short, it is gone. The HD dealer close by (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile away) is still there and had little damage, but everything behind it for miles is gone.
All that being said, just watch the local weather forecasts. And I don't mean look at the weather.com app on your phone. If you are any where near OKC, watch their forecast during the news at 6pm or 10pm. They set the bar on weather forecasts. Last May they forecasted that that system was going to lay down some big tornadoes days in advance. As long as you keep an eye out on what they say, you will be fine.
The time frame that you are speaking of is towards the end of the worse part of tornado season for my area (oklahoma). Your biggest problem if you run into a situation where there may be a tornado is where to take cover. You will be in an area that you are not familiar with, so it will be difficult to find a good place to take cover.
I would not let the possibility of tornadoes stop your trip. Just pay attention every night when at motels (or wherever you are staying) and plan accordingly.
Enjoy your trip,
All that being said, just watch the local weather forecasts. And I don't mean look at the weather.com app on your phone. If you are any where near OKC, watch their forecast during the news at 6pm or 10pm. They set the bar on weather forecasts. Last May they forecasted that that system was going to lay down some big tornadoes days in advance. As long as you keep an eye out on what they say, you will be fine.
The time frame that you are speaking of is towards the end of the worse part of tornado season for my area (oklahoma). Your biggest problem if you run into a situation where there may be a tornado is where to take cover. You will be in an area that you are not familiar with, so it will be difficult to find a good place to take cover.
I would not let the possibility of tornadoes stop your trip. Just pay attention every night when at motels (or wherever you are staying) and plan accordingly.
Enjoy your trip,
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 268
Likes: 17
From: Albertville, AL
A buddy and I were traveling on our bikes when a tornado was within 2 miles of us. Couldn't see crap and I was scared to death to stop not sure where it was. We were in a national forest with no place to hide. We rode until we were finally out of it. Found later that day we were within 2 miles of it where it touched down. I always have an eye on the wx!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
I agree with those who say the possibility of a tornado is not enough to change your travel plans, but it is a great idea to pay attention to the weather forecasts.
Dennis
Dennis
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 158
From: East Coast
I live in Oklahoma and have all my life. We are considered Tornado Alley. Just ask those that live in Moore, Ok. if you don't believe it. As a matter of fact, I'm in OKC right now and as we were driving through Moore today, we thought we would eat at a favorite bbq place. Turned on 4th street and thought I was lost. Well long story short, it is gone. The HD dealer close by (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile away) is still there and had little damage, but everything behind it for miles is gone.
All that being said, just watch the local weather forecasts. And I don't mean look at the weather.com app on your phone. If you are any where near OKC, watch their forecast during the news at 6pm or 10pm. They set the bar on weather forecasts. Last May they forecasted that that system was going to lay down some big tornadoes days in advance. As long as you keep an eye out on what they say, you will be fine.
The time frame that you are speaking of is towards the end of the worse part of tornado season for my area (oklahoma). Your biggest problem if you run into a situation where there may be a tornado is where to take cover. You will be in an area that you are not familiar with, so it will be difficult to find a good place to take cover.
I would not let the possibility of tornadoes stop your trip. Just pay attention every night when at motels (or wherever you are staying) and plan accordingly.
Enjoy your trip,
All that being said, just watch the local weather forecasts. And I don't mean look at the weather.com app on your phone. If you are any where near OKC, watch their forecast during the news at 6pm or 10pm. They set the bar on weather forecasts. Last May they forecasted that that system was going to lay down some big tornadoes days in advance. As long as you keep an eye out on what they say, you will be fine.
The time frame that you are speaking of is towards the end of the worse part of tornado season for my area (oklahoma). Your biggest problem if you run into a situation where there may be a tornado is where to take cover. You will be in an area that you are not familiar with, so it will be difficult to find a good place to take cover.
I would not let the possibility of tornadoes stop your trip. Just pay attention every night when at motels (or wherever you are staying) and plan accordingly.
Enjoy your trip,
Being in aviation for 45 years, i am always on the computer checking the weather, forecasts, fronts, etc. and i'll admit a little paranoid at times, but while it does affect my decision making for sure, just always have an alternate plan.
Plan your trip, also the alternate if things look potentially bad, adjust, and leave yourself some time in your schedule in case you have to hold up somewhere.
Thinking back to my nautical days, a rule is always have a safe harbor (if possible).
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 627
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
In Illinois you can get tornado's anytime from Feb-Nov, but that said the outbreaks from the last few years seem to be from Mar-May, June is usually a fairly calm month, so I wouldn't change any plans but keep a contingency plan just in case. I keep an app on my phone that ties to the national weather service that will alert you to bad weather as well as another app called radar now that will give you up to date info.
One thing I found out while riding is if you put on your rain gear because it looks like rain, 9 out of ten times it won't rain, But if it looks like rain and you don't put on your rain gear 9 out of 10 times you will get soaked.
One thing I found out while riding is if you put on your rain gear because it looks like rain, 9 out of ten times it won't rain, But if it looks like rain and you don't put on your rain gear 9 out of 10 times you will get soaked.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 10
From: Oklahoma
I live in Oklahima and don't worry about the tornadoes as much as I worried about the hurricanes when we lived in Houston. We don't name tornadoes and track them for several days like hurricanes.