RARE DECEMBER TORNADO OUTBREAK

Unusual for December!

On Saturday December 28, 2024 NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a 15 percent hatched risk for Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, in addition to a 10 percent hatched risk for TK states and regular 5 percent hatched risk for other areas. There have been 44 reported tornadoes that have left at least four dead as of press time. The EF ratings have not yet been released, but I suspect the ratings could climb as high as EF-4, though more likely the highest will probably be an EF-3.

Is this the biggest outbreak of 2024? No: April's outbreak across the Midwest was larger. But it was still substantial. Though I do feel bad for poor storm chaser Reed Timmer, who missed all the big tornadoes in Texas; he didn't see a tornado until about 10:00 p.m. ET, and in the dark it was barely visible. What was his mistake? I honestly think he rushed it. The 15 percent hatched risk came out of nowhere, and with everyone already picking their locations, and with Reed being in Oklahoma (his home base) and a long way from Louisiana (where it appeared the tornadoes would hit), he started driving before the 15 percent was issued. Thus, it was too late to pivot to Texas, so he just had to do his best with the storms he was on.

Here's video of a stong tornado that hit the town of Katy, Texas.

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