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The Jarrell, TX Tornado: May 27, 1997

The Jarrell, TX Tornado: May 27, 1997. Karin Swanson AOS 453 May 11, 2000. What happened?. May 27, 1997-huge tornado outbreak 24 tornadoes were sighted throughout Texas Tornadoes ranged from F0 to F5. They were just funnel clouds in some areas, and huge causes of destruction in others.

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The Jarrell, TX Tornado: May 27, 1997

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  1. The Jarrell, TX Tornado:May 27, 1997 Karin Swanson AOS 453 May 11, 2000

  2. What happened? • May 27, 1997-huge tornado outbreak • 24 tornadoes were sighted throughout Texas • Tornadoes ranged from F0 to F5. They were just funnel clouds in some areas, and huge causes of destruction in others

  3. Jarrell, Texas • F5 on the Fujita scale • Touched down at 2:40 pm CST • Vortex 1/2 mile wide • Property damage $40.0 million • Crop damage $100,000 • 27 deaths in Jarrell alone

  4. What made the Jarrell tornado occur? • Synoptic overview • Mesoscale analysis • satellites • sounding • indices for the area

  5. Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis

  6. What is needed for a tornado? • Dry area to west of tornado area • Vertical wind shear • Latent instability • Middle level jet • Moist air at surface • Dry air aloft

  7. Miller diagram

  8. Conceptual Model

  9. Probabilities • Helicity=56.0 m^2/s^2 (12Z) • + • CAPE=3447 J/kg • = • Good Chance for Tornado

  10. Indices (from 12Z) • Lifted Index=-9.59C > Probable T-storm • Showalter=3.77C >No chance • Total Totals=43.60C >No chance • K Index=21.10 >20-40% chance • Sweat Index=45.50 > No chance • BRN=152.20 • CAP=4.8

  11. Conclusion • Several things happened on May 27, 1997 in Texas to make tornadic activity possible. • Large CAPE coupled with a lower helicity and a strong cap • Moist air was present at lower levels, while dry air was present aloft • Supercell progression through Texas

  12. Questions?

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