Deadly Weather

We're fine but folks further south of us got hit bad:

With at least 15 confirmed dead after a massive tornado Tuesday evening, Carter County emergency officials were forced to suspend the search for survivors shortly after 1 a.m. until daylight Wednesday.

“It’s just too dangerous,” Sheriff Ken Grace said, referring to jagged metal and live wires hidden in rubble and debris. “We don’t need to be adding any more injuries to what we already have.”

Sheriff’s officials said this town of about 5,000 people was devastated when a tornado estimated to have been about a half-mile wide tore through the middle of Lone Grove, ripping buildings from their slabs, demolishing dozens of mobile homes and snapping any trees and power lines in its path.

The storms exploded around 2:30 - the day was clear and sunny and cool and then in over the span of 30 minutes, things turned dire.

The view from my office window:


Ominous. The panels of light in the sky are reflections from the lights in my office. Here's a more straight on shot without the reflections.


Things got more ominous before they got better:


The tornado sirens went off three times before finally giving up. By the time it was to head home, things were improving:


At home, we'd had only some rain and wind but the girls' color guard practice had been cancelled. Or, rather, Emily's had, but then Rachel's was back on when it became clear the weather had passed us by, for the most part.

Later in the evening, when the storms mentioned above came through, we had more rain and thunder and lightning and hail. The dogs were on the patio and were properly wigged out. Lucky couldn't stop shaking until the storm had passed.

Well, like I said, we're fine, so we'll pray for those people not so fortunate.