Topic: Tornadoes

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Vernal equinox heralds end of the winter that wasn't

This winter was the warmest on record so far in the 21st century. Here are some other remarkable facts about the winter that wasn't.
In Pictures: US natural disasters of 2011
In Pictures: Rebuilding a town: Parkersburg Iowa
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 06/02
In Pictures: Massachusetts tornadoes

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Tornado arrives as uninvited guest at Kansas wedding (+video)

A video of a tornado at a Kansas wedding has gone viral. Who invited that tall, dark guest to the wedding, anyway?
Deadly Joplin tornado remembered, one year later (+video)

Residents of Joplin, Missouri awoke Tuesday morning with memories still fresh in their minds of the deadly twister that struck their city one year ago.
Joplin seniors graduate after year of tragedy and triumph

A year ago, the deadliest tornado in six decades leveled Joplin, Missouri; President Obama commemorated that anniversary with a speech to the high school graduates who persevered.
One year later, Joplin is on the mend

On the anniversary of a tornado that claimed 161 lives, the people of Joplin have made big strides towards rebuilding - but there is work left to be done.
Hope, resiliency, and unity mark the Joplin tornado anniversary

One the worst tornadoes in US history hit Joplin a year ago. The Missouri city has good reason to now celebrate its path to recovery.
Lady Antebellum charity concert for tornado-struck Henryville, Ind. (+video)

Lady Antebellum played at a mini-prom for Henryville, Ind. Wednesday night. Lady Antebellum helped raise $235,000 to help rebuild the town struck by a tornado.
Cover Story
CSI Tornado: Decoding – and chasing – supercells with the experts

CSI Tornado: Chasing supercells, interviewing a homeowner sucked off his front porch in an Oklahoma tornado outbreak, and examining the path of a destructive funnel, an expert expedition shows how science is close to decoding the way a tornado works.
Editor's Blog
Riding the whirlwind

The Monitor's intrepid science writer rode with the storm-chasers who help federal forecasters warn those in twisters' paths.
Tornado warnings saved lives, but sirens aren't enough (+video)

Tornado sirens aren't designed to awaken residents and aren't fail-proof, as Woodward, Okla. learned. What tornado warnings were effective this past weekend.
Tornado watch: Early warnings may have saved Iowa town

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., issued a stern warning about oncoming storms more than 24 hours in advance. Residents credited early warnings with saving lives.
Midwest tornadoes pose severe threat across hundreds of miles

Tornadoes raking communities across the Midwest and Plains left five people dead and at least 29 injured in Oklahoma as a vast severe weather front plunged eastward Sunday across the nation's midsection.
As Midwest storm bears down, forecasters use more urgent voice in tornado warnings

The National Weather Service is testing phrases like 'catastrophic' and 'unsurvivable' to describe looming storm systems in a bid to engage Americans’ survival instincts. Saturday's tornado-bearing storm was called 'high-end' and 'life-threatening.'
4 feet of hail? Massive hail storm hits Texas panhandle

4 feet of hail: Snow plows were brought out to clear muddy piles of hail that were up to 4 feet high on Route 287 in Texas. More hail is forecast for this weekend.
Texas tornadoes: 296 American Airlines flights canceled Friday

Texas tornadoes: American Airlines is still recovering from the tornadoes earlier this week. Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared three counties disaster areas in the wake of the tornadoes.
Texas tornadoes: How much warning time was possible? (+video)

Texas tornadoes that hit the Dallas area Tuesday resulted in no fatalities, in part due to timely warnings. But a new model could improve tornado warning times dramatically.
Texas tornadoes disrupt airline flights, cut off electricity

Texas tornadoes forced the cancellation of 420 American Airline flights Wednesday. Some 92 American Airline planes were out of service due to the Texas tornadoes. And 22,000 homes were without power in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Texas tornadoes: Why no fatalities after a dozen tornadoes? (+video)

Texas tornadoes: An estimated 650 homes were destroyed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but no one died. One reason: Daylight tornadoes are often less deadly.
Two 'extremely dangerous' tornadoes reported in Dallas area

The National Weather Service reported at least two separate 'large and extremely dangerous' tornadoes south of Dallas and Fort Worth.
Flooding, tornado hit San Antonio and other parts of Texas

A tornado touched down southwest of San Antonio Monday night damaging half a dozen homes. Severe flooding is forecast from Texas to Missouri over the next several days.
Vernal equinox heralds end of the winter that wasn't

This winter was the warmest on record so far in the 21st century. Here are some other remarkable facts about the winter that wasn't.
Spring into summer: Unseasonable heat helps pave way for violent weather

Spring is just beginning, but in many parts of the country it already feels like summer. As a storm moves into especially warm humid air in the center of the country, Texas is under the gun for violent storms.
At least 125 homes hammered by tornadoes in Michigan (+video)

Thursday night, Dexter, Mich. was hit by a tornado that left a 10-mile path of destruction. Two other tornadoes were reported in Michigan.
Warm spring, more tornadoes? Meteorologists raise red flags.

An unusually balmy spring plus cold fronts are a formula for stronger thunderstorms and tornadoes, as hard-hit communities strive to be more resilient.
Snowstorms, cold complicate tornado cleanup in Kentucky

Nearly a half-foot of snow fell overnight in West Liberty. Utility crews there are working to restore power and residents are making repairs to homes damaged in the tornado last week.
The baby in the cornfield: Tales of tiny tornado survivors

Why are stories of tornado 'miracle babies' so common? It happened again Friday when rescuers found a blond, blue-eyed toddler in the middle of an Indiana cornfield, 10 miles from her home.