Other Storm Anniversaries This Weekend

MAY 3, 2009, 8:59 AM:

A couple of my blog readers reminded me that this weekend is not only the anniversary of the LaPlata and Greensburg tornadoes, but also of the strongest tornado in the U.S., the Moore (Oklahoma City) tornado of 1999, and the Super Outbreak of 2003.

The 1999 tornado (see NWS page) holds the world record wind speed, though it is not official because it was measured above ground by a Doppler Radar (see WikiPedia or my Record World Wind Speeds entry). NEWSOK.com also has a retrospective.

Here is some information on the 2003 outbreak; you can get more info on WikiPedia or from the NWS. The AP says that 90% of those left homeless by the storm now have basic needs, but thousands remain without jobs and housing. The U.N.'s Food program will provide rations to 350,000 people for the rest of the year.

It is also the anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, the deadliest storm ever in Myanmar (Burma), occuring last year (see my blog). Below is a reprint from our Weather Headlines. NASA has a page with satellite images from Nargis.