Talk:Tornado outbreak of May 22–27, 2008

Memo
Since the system has moved on, I would suggest the following edit to the first sentence: "The May 2008 Plains tornado outbreak was a severe storm system that began May 22, 2008, and affected the Central Plains of the United States." --Wikidude62, 00:22, 26 May 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikidude62 (talk • contribs)

Be on the lookout, somebody briefly rated the Windsor tornado as an EF5 before reverted back. Also, I have not found any ratings confirmed in Colorado other then the Windsor and also the Cheyenne NWS has not posted its rating. However, it may have been from local sources. If nothing is found, we should revert those changes However, this is the area where the infamous sockpuppets used to cover tornado events.-- JForget 00:40, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I haven't heard any ratings from the other Colorado or Wyoming tornadoes either, so they can be reverted back (except for the EF3 in Windsor). Another source said Laramie was an EF1, but I haven't heard NWS Cheyenne say anything. CrazyC83 (talk) 00:48, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Well it's someone from the NWS who said that, so we could at least rated it as an EF1 and mention it is a preliminary rating. I did the same thing with the Earle, AR tornado on May 1, 2008 when someone from the NWS told WMC-TV that the damage was about EF3 before NWS Memphis post it. For the rest we could revert it back. Actually, it may be the same tornado for the other CO reports.-- JForget 00:51, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * It's possible it was the same tornado, but that is quite a long distance between the locations with no damage in between. I agree it can be listed as an EF1 saying "preliminary rating". CrazyC83 (talk) 00:52, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Is there a more reliable source for the EF4 rating for the Windsor, CO? It is coming from a blog and even the source is not sure if it is an EF4. JForget 03:12, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I haven't seen any updates since Friday's initial update saying they found sections of EF2 and EF3 damage. Although the EF? at the SPC site suggests the rating is not final, I haven't heard anything to suggest it will be upgraded. CrazyC83 (talk) 03:35, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Outbreak Sequence
Should we consider re-naming this article "Late May 2008 Plains tornado outbreak sequence", since it appears that another impulse will emerge from the rockies this week posing a continued severe risk? --Bigphishy56 (talk) 17:59, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * It isn't really an outbreak sequence yet, as it is involving a single very slow-moving system with long slow moving fronts. CrazyC83 (talk) 19:15, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

If tornadoes occur in Canada...
It is not likely, but possible that tornadoes may take place in Canada (pretty hard to catch them in the sparsely populated area). Unless they quietly changed things in the winter, I don't think the EF scale is used there. However, if they occur and are rated on the old scale, I think they should be listed in the total chart (not in the grids) in the same number category (i.e. F0 = EF0), similar to how January 2007 tornadoes in the US were treated on the annual total. CrazyC83 (talk) 19:50, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Article assumes U.S. only audience. Rename desirable.
The article is unintentionally named assuming a U.S.-only audience. There are several plains on all of the continents. Rename desirable. Proposals invited. -- Yellowdesk (talk) 20:46, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
 * What about May 2008 US Midwest tornado outbreak ? I agree a rename is in order.  Keeper   |   76   |   Disclaimer  21:03, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Request for addition
I live in Fayette County Iowa and we had a significant experience here where the debris from the tornadoes around Waterloo rained down upon us here and items were found as far away as Pairie du Chien, Wi. I'm not adept at this site or else I would add the information. I think it's important to the article as it shows the raw power exhibited by this Oklahoma style tornado. Information on this can be found at the NWS LaCrosse page and various newspapers including the Waterloo Courier and Cedar Rapids Gazette. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.224.23.92 (talk) 16:00, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

No source for EF-4 rating at parkersburg
Someone has listed the rating as EF-4, and as of now i haven't been able to find a source to back that up (though it sure looks like EF-4). If someone can't produce a source this rating should be removed for the time being. --Bigphishy56 (talk) 19:26, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I removed it, since I see no source for it either. (It may have been EF5 for what I know) CrazyC83 (talk) 19:29, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
 * It's been mentioned on NPR, and they haven't stated a source. NWS Des Moines will post a final event summary on Tuesday, so for now the EF4 is definitely not official.Davidals (talk) 23:27, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
 * At this point, it is "at least EF3". When such is mentioned, the policy is to list it at the lowest rating in the range until the final assessment is done. CrazyC83 (talk) 00:46, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Parkersburg has been rated as a EF-5 according to the NWS in Des Moines IA http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=dmx&storyid=14909&source=0 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ragbrai (talk • contribs) 00:24, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Today's high risk
A high risk has been issued for the Central Plains including Omaha and a moderate risk basically for the areas that were the hardest hit on Sunday. Should a major outbreak occur today, should it included as part of another outbreak sequence like Plains Outbreak Sequence of May (Late?) 2008? At the same time, we could add the tornadoes that occured May 26-28 including two confirmed Canadian tornadoes since it would follow tradition like the May 1995, 2003 and 2004 outbreak sequence articles as did the event earlier this month. By the way the tornadoes should be included even though there were not a lot on that day - it was from the same storm and the same area (except the two tornadoes in Ontario) and traditionnaly, 00all/most tornadoes from the same storm are included (i.e the Oklahoma Outbreak in 1999 which I've put all tornadoes until May 8, or again the Greensburg outbreak which includes May 6 even though the event on that day was similar to May 26 of this year).

Quite frankly I did not see this upcoming threat coming ... well in part because I was offline most of Tuesday.-- JForget 13:38, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * If there is major activity tonight, I would be in favor of renaming it to an outbreak sequnce article. Even though there were very few reports from May 26 - May 28, this would still mark about 8 straight days of reports of tornadic activity in the plains of the U.S. and Canada (assuming you include eastern New Mexico in that).  WxGopher (talk) 15:55, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree. Rename to outbreak sequence if activity is high today.  Depending on the number, we might need to move the tornadoes to "List of tornadoes...". -  CWY2190    ( talk  •  contributions )  15:57, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I think we should consider moving the list of tornadoes now anyway. I think that the coordinates that we're putting in the table are really slowing down the load time of the page, at least for me.  WxGopher (talk) 16:25, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Looking over the data currently (5PM EDT) on the SPC website, I think we'd probably better start monitoring SPC and the local WFO sites pretty closely--there's already two tornado warnings issued, a large PDS tornado watch that covers basically the eastern half of Nebraska and western half of Iowa, and the MD for the High-risk area indicates "initiation likely around 22-23Z;" if we're getting some spinups now, when it's only 2100Z, then I think it's gonna be a busy, busy night. Rdfox 76 (talk) 21:04, 29 May 2008 (UTC) (Edited by Rdfox 76 (talk) 21:11, 29 May 2008 (UTC) to correct position of the PDS watch, whoopsie.)


 * There was no significant activity the last three days though, but it might be worth calling it an outbreak sequence even though I have been treating them as separate events though. If the outbreak is not significant though (i.e. article-worthy on its own), then I'd treat it separate. The fact that it is the same area impacted does give an argument to continuing the article here rather than starting a new article. CrazyC83 (talk) 21:26, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Keep also in mind there is moderate risk for tommorrow for Illinois and Indiana as well and there very will be a moderate risk for Saturday as the area of slight risk is very large - from Oklahoma City to Ottawa, ON to the Middle Atlantic States. I think even though only 40 tornadoes have been confirmed (I'm including the two in Ontario on the 26th), the list should be separate as soon as possible (waiting for approval from the rest). The article size could easily jump at 7o or 80k quickly. We're already over 50k before this outbreak even started and the tornadoes on the 26th through the 28th have not even been placed. -- JForget 22:30, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I've added those from the 26 to the 28 as well as the on-going outbreak (already at least 7 tornadoes), but are still hidden for the moment.-- JForget 22:56, 29 May 2008 (UTC)


 * So far 9 reliable reports (since the 2220-2235 Kearney reports were likely all the same tornado). The list would go to List of tornadoes in the Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence (with the May 7-15 article becoming Mid-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence to best disambiguate). This month has been incredible - it seems half the time we are in a tornado outbreak... CrazyC83 (talk) 23:18, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
 * The local news in the Kearney area continue to say there were multiple confirmed touchdowns in the city. The most recent quote I could find was from an emergency management official who said that he believed that at least four and possibly as many as six tornadoes touched down in and near Kearney. I read that early this morning, though, and that article has since been moved or changed. It is known that a confirmed EF2 passed just south of the city, following Interstate 80, and based on the damage locations there had to have been at least two others. Toroca (talk) 17:59, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Looking back at reports, there were tornado reports (most not yet confirmed) on each of the 26th, 27th and 28th in areas already affected, so there are no gaps in activity. Conclusion: continue here. The tornadoes from the 26th in Ontario (there may have been more since that area is very sparsely populated) was from the same system that produced Parkersburg and the other killers, while the rest are from the precursors to the current system. One other thing to remember about today - we are likely going to see a major derecho this evening/overnight, and that will likely warrant a large section in the article (whether here or at a new location) even if the tornado count is lower. CrazyC83 (talk) 23:26, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I disagree. There were only 11 tornado reports total on May 26-28, most of which had the qualifier "brief touchdown, no damage".  This is a completely different storm system, and does not quite warrant its own article as of yet, IMO. It just smells a little of WP:OR to me to include all of these days under a single banner. - Running  On  Brains  03:37, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
 * They were all related to one of the two main systems though. By definition, an "outbreak sequence" always involves 2 or more storm systems - a single system would be one outbreak. CrazyC83 (talk) 16:23, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I hadn't noticed the name change, sorry about that. However, I separated the two events on the Tornadoes of 2008 page, since there's really nothing worth writing about for three days in a row. - Running On  Brains  22:08, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Manitoba tornado
I am sure that Environment Canada will never post the confirmation of the two tornadoes online, but considering the photograph confirmation and I believe the initial report was from EC spotters it, I think it would save to say that at least one tornado can be rated F0 - the one shown on the image, which looks like the same that was spotted from EC. The CTV article says it confirmed two touchdowns with no damage, thus an F0. JForget 13:42, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm curious about that too. You're right though...no damage always means F0 or EF0 if absolutely confirmed. CrazyC83 (talk) 16:22, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Separate list article
I'm just alerting users that I've put the list of tornadoes in a separate article since we are nearly at 75k. See List of Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence tornadoes-- JForget 22:31, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Upcoming threats
It looks like the article will end today...the 30% hatched tomorrow is for a possible derecho event, and then it is scattered severe with winds the main threat until the next system comes in on June 5-7. That could be the next big tornado outbreak. CrazyC83 (talk) 13:53, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Today's moderate risk is for wind; there is only a 2% tornado risk. CrazyC83 (talk) 17:16, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Would we continue that here, or for sanity (and naming) sakes, start a new article should it be needed? - CWY2190    ( talk  •  contributions )  17:13, 2 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Probably start a new article. CrazyC83 (talk) 23:38, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Good Article?
This article is really starting to look great everyone. Should this a good article nominee? Rvk41 (talk) 06:15, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I think a GAN is getting close. However first I think it needs a thorough copyediting, and the refs should be converted to the citation templates.  How long should we wait for the confirmed tornadoes to be updated?  WxGopher (talk) 14:17, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Too soon, since the numbers are not final. NWS Dodge City had 50 tornadoes confirmed in its forecast area on May 23 ALONE (seriously!), and the data is just starting to come in. CrazyC83 (talk) 01:26, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
 * We're also missing info from Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas and in the NWS Wichita and Kansas City areas and some other tornadoes in Oklahoma, Illinois and perhaps Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa as well.-- JForget 23:04, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Those may not have been confirmed, or may not have been released due to workload. We had similar issues in the Greensburg outbreak (where the total ballooned from a preliminary 83 to a final count of 123). As a result, I think (at least in some cases) the unconfirmed tornadoes should be left on the list indefinitely, until the NCDC reports are out. There were probably over 150 tornadoes in the outbreak. CrazyC83 (talk) 00:45, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

150+ seems likely since the official total for May increased by 194, most of which are probably in this outbreak sequence. We'll find out once they update the running total chart for this year. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 13:33, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

California tornadoes
According to the NCDC information for May, there were 4 tornadoes on May 22, including one EF2. Should they be included as part of the main outbreak or a separate event? Cyclonebiskit (talk) 00:29, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Unless they were caused by the system, then it would be considered a separate outbreak and they should not be included in this one. They can go in Tornadoes of 2008 for sure though if they're not already. WxGopher (talk) 12:16, 12 August 2008 (UTC)


 * It's been a long and painful operation, but I've updated the list which brings the total to 234 tornadoes including 71 in Kansas (starting) alone with two others coming from Oklahoma on May 23. There might be some clean-up to be done but I think I've removed much of the duplicated entries and added every one. Only the info from NWS Denver and perhaps NWS Goodland or/and Pueblo is missing.-- JForget 16:32, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

May 23 tornadoes set new record for Kansas
When I looked up on storm data for the tornadoes that occur on May 23 alone, I was shocked by the number listed.

The results were: 103 TORNADO(s) were reported in the U.S. between 05/23/2008 and 05/23/2008. That is so many tornadoes for a single day! That must be the most to occur in a single day in a long time! But, the table list here says 84 tornadoes occurred???

MOST OF THE TORNADOES OCCURRED IN KANSAS: 90 TORNADO(s) were reported in Kansas between 05/23/2008 and 05/23/2008. But, the table list here says 71 tornadoes occurred in Kansas???

I read that the record tornado touchdowns in a single day in one state is 67. WHO ELSE REALIZES THAT RECORD IS NOW BEAT BY THE # OF TORNADOES IN KANSAS ON MAY 23??? Is this really true? This should be mentioned in the Kansas tornadoes section. Someone please respond! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.252.157.200 (talk) 05:09, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
 * The number of tornadoes reported is different than number of tornadoes confirmed. The reported tornadoes refers to those reports that the NWS gets on the day the event is happening.  Often times multiple people will call in and report the same tornado, so that's the number of reported tornadoes is so high.  When the NWS goes back to figure out exactly how many tornadoes there were, they'll figure out which tornadoes had multiple reports, so that's they the number of "confirmed" tornadoes is usually much lower than the "reported" one.  WxGopher (talk) 17:01, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

I realize that, but you're still missing the point! The # of CONFIRMED tornadoes on the table here says 71 tornadoes occurring in Kansas in May 23, 2008 which is beating the state record of 67 tornadoes in South Dakoda in June 24, 2003! Edit: JForget has now added this information to the article on August 24. -Anonymous —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.252.157.200 (talk) 01:02, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

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Greensburg Kansas EF5
The target area commute on May 4th 2007 was a grim reminder of the destruction a volatile atmosphere can unleash, on this day Greensburg Kansas will be hit by an EF5 tornado which was 1.7 miles wide, ending the lives of 11 people and leaving 95% of the town decimated. 98.97.8.68 (talk) 01:10, 18 October 2022 (UTC)