Tornado strikes Beaumont, Texas... and Bill ramps up in the Atlantic

Andy Garza For the Beaumont Enterprise
The tornado forms near a Wal-Mart in Beaumont Tuesday afternoon. ~source

Well, by now, most of you have probably heard of the freak EF-1 tornado that struck the Kohl's, Wal-Mart and Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, Texas, tracking 100 yards wide and 1 mile long... tossing cars around like they were toys, injuring 10 people.

The Beaumont Enterprise reports in its online edition that the roof of the Kohl's has collapsed.
~source

Unfortunately, not only was there no tornado warning, there wasn't even a tornado watch, heck, not even a severe thunderstorm watch. This thing spun up out of nowhere, and the radar didn't really suggest such a thing might happen. Pictures of some damage. Hopefully, the injuries weren't life-threatening and people will recover quickly. It must have been terrifying.

Missouri appears to be under fire today for a relatively strong likelihood of tornadoes. Consider this your warning... If you are in the green, expect that anything can happen.

The now category 4, likely fish-storm, Hurricane Bill (isn't he lovely?!, image links to a loop), is a big story of the morning. Haven't strengthened in an environment of heavy shear, and with a shear settling forecasted, conditions are definitely favorable for further intensification, we can expect the 11AM update to show likely strengthening. TWC, this morning, reported Hurricane Hunter dropsonde reading of 158mph winds in the eyewall of Hurricane Bill... just an FYI, that is Category 5. Currently, the trajectory has actually westward some, to actually include Cape Cod, Massachusetts within the cone. Unfortunately, that westward jog of the forecast track is not good news for the east coast. It suggests that the ridge isn't breaking down as hard and fast as the models originally foretold. The models do still consistently show a turn to the north... How about this wording...

A LARGE DEEP-LAYER TROUGH MOVING INTO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES SHOULD CAUSE BILL TO RECURVE NORTHWARD AND NORTHEASTWARD.

After 72 hours, the models disagree on what will happen... some keeping Hurricane Bill a fish, bringing him sharply out to sea... others suggesting a hint of a New England impact. I will certainly be keeping my eye on Bill. (wink)

Have a tremendous day!
~Dewdrop