What's with all this severe weather?

What's with all this severe weather?

Gina4328 (guest) 28 Apr 2011 04:11

It seems like every single day, we hear about huge severe weather outbreaks with tornadoes and things. I'm getting a little concerned and a little scared because people in my town are saying that these are signs that the end of the world is coming and people should prepare or repent. My father believes that these are signs of the biblical apocalypse and he told me to pray for mercy and salvation, but my mother, who does not believe him, got mad at him and tried to soothe me, but i'm still a little scared.

Please help… I'm only 27 years old.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

TheGreatJuju 28 Apr 2011 04:25

Severe weather in one part of the world isn't a sign of anything, least of all the apocalypse. Bikenbeer2000 mentions in another thread that it's dry as a bone in the UK right now.

You hear about severe weather and tornadoes almost every day, because such things happen every day, especially during spring in the US. This season is nasty due to the ongoing La Niña.

There have been sects in every generation of Christians for 2,000 years that have fancied themselves in the so-called "end times." Aside from sharing a faith, they also share being utterly wrong in their apocalyptic beliefs.

http://abhota.info
http://www.livescience.com/10385-failed-predictions-stop-apocalypse-forecasters.html

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"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Gary A 28 Apr 2011 10:06

Yeah, I think your father may need to have a long look at himself here. Thank goodness I know nothing about the bible, from what you read on these forums it sounds like a pretty scary read. I live in the u.k and the weather here is scorching (not trying to rub it in) so it sounds like your father is one of those people who considers the U.S to be the whole world. The bottom line is people need to stop looking at every single negative occurrence that happens as a sign of the apocalypse. We have seen it all here, animal deaths, earthquakes, bad weather, tsunami's, floods etc. Even fascinating things like the appearance of a harmless comet or a hypothetical existence of a planet in the outer solar system have been dragged into it. If people are scared by these type of things then the world is going to be a very scary place for you. They always have and always will happen. As Will Smith says after punching an alien in independence day, "welcome to earth".

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The great thing about science is, it's true whether you believe in it or not.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

obaeyens 28 Apr 2011 10:44

Odd I had last week wonderful weather with lots of sun here and beautiful sunsets.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Rita Sue 28 Apr 2011 15:33

I have posted this in another thread yesterday… But I think it will fit in here much better!

Oh wow I get on facebook and everytime the local news reports some barn blew over during a storm people comment "the end is near!!!" … I just want to knock their block off because all these people need to do is study a little history!

I posted this on facebook last week, but it pertains to this post as well. My great grandmother lived to be 105 years old. (1899 - 2004) To us, this is a really REALLY long time! But in reality it is just a very short amount of time. With that being said, her live was FULL of events that could have also been said to be the 'end of times'… Here are an example of a few on this website:

http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2011/03/putting_the_japanese_earthquake_into_context_the_t.html

Also, in America alone there have been countless floods, the San Fransisco Earthquake of 1906, the Dust Bowl, Black Blizzards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl (If the folks today saw a dust cloud like THAT heading toward them… They'd REALLY think it was the end of the world!)

And regular blizzards:

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-worst-blizzards-u-s-history.php

Floods/Dam Breaks/Hurricanes:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/fact-sheets/fs.024-00.html

Tornados? Yes… I just went through 4 tornado warnings today, and a tornado struck less than half a mile from my house this morning! Scary… Yes! Doomsday? Not in the least. I have been through many tornados myself, however I used to work at a landmark (built in 1804) and I'll tell ya that place had soooo many close calls with earthquakes, floods, and many many tornados! Tornados have even grazed the place but it still stands untouched. In fact, the very town I live in was nearly reduced to matchsticks in 1913 because of a tornado.

…Not to mention the countless other man-made events that took place during her life. Such as: World War 1, Black Tuesday, The Great Depression, World War II, The Holocaust, the Nuclear bomb, the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even 9/11 to name the really big ones!

Here were some man-made disasters she could personally relate to:

http://www.msha.gov/district/Dist_01/Fatals/histfat.htm

And there isn't one person who knew her that would say she had a drop of fear in her body. She passed away a happy woman with a great life, a ton of kids, grandkids, greats, great-greats and even a great-great-great! She had a ton of great memories in her life, and a ton of wonderful stories to tell. I think that in times like these, we should think of our ancestors who have endured so, so much more than we have… And this is only in the last 110 years! I would post links dating back 1000 years or more, but that might take me all night! :)

I don't mean to bombard you with links… But maybe you'll feel better knowing that the disasters we have nowadays seem relatively small compared to some of the disasters in these links. I remember reading somewhere that 1931 is tied with 2005 for the year with the most disasters ever recorded by modern technology (since late 1800's). Actually, after reading the links myself, it seems like things have even perhaps quieted down, if even just a bit.

PS: If you read around on here, you'll see a lot of folks have already posted this passage from the Bible:

http://bible.cc/matthew/24-36.htm

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"FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real" - Unknown
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" - Carl Sagan
"Your leftovers called… They want their tin foil back." - Personal note to doomsayers.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Mephistospheles 28 Apr 2011 13:03

I think most people just focus on the negative stuff. The thing is, I believe that just because the weather is a little different doesn't mean it's the end. I mean today, I had good sunny weather with starry skies. Our world is changing, I think that's true but… it doesn't mean it's ending. At least, I'm trying to believe this.

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Our fears are more numerous than our dangers, and we suffer more in our imagination than in reality.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Gary A 28 Apr 2011 16:47

Hi mep.
Just to convince you a little more, this planet has undergone a few ice ages, yet life has thrived for billions of years. Also the phrases "coldest, wettest, warmest since records began" are pretty misleading because these records have only been documented for a fraction of the time humans have been on the planet.

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The great thing about science is, it's true whether you believe in it or not.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Suncrush 28 Apr 2011 14:11

From what i've seen and heard over the years, the US has always been getting thrashed by storms and swirly things. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Depending on your perspective, you could say the non stop sun we've been having here in England is severe, but one man's "severe" is another man's BBQ time.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

emmylou 28 Apr 2011 18:41

People are gonna tell you this weather is normal and happens all the time, it don't :) there is something very wrong with it :D I am just waiting to find someone that will actually tell me what and why this is happening :)

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Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Alene Y 28 Apr 2011 19:08

Hi Emmy,
Did you happen to go to any of the links Rita Sue provided? They really put the storms and disasters in context. I won't say they happen all the time, only that they have always happened and there are many that have been much worse than anything we've been seeing. These events may skip 20 years or so, but they are normal and they don't signify anything.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Suncrush 28 Apr 2011 19:47

I am just waiting to find someone that will actually tell me what and why this is happening :)

Perhaps you should read what Juju posted…. on numerous occasions.

It will explain why some happenings are more intense than usual.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Tomy2011 28 Apr 2011 19:52

Emmylou, the weather is normal. In what year there wasn't any tornado, hurricane etc? They happen every year, and if you see the number of phenomena, you'll see that this is not weird at all. This slight increase of the number of tornadoes in the USA is due to La Niña… a normal phenomenon. The media says that "the number of tornadoes increased". That's right, but they don't tell us why (at least where I read, they didn't).
Lazy doomsayers are going to say it's doom, but you'll better search for true information, right?

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

RickardM 28 Apr 2011 20:18

I thought you were over all this doomsday crap Emmy? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you from England? What kind of severe weather have you been having as of late?

Perhaps you weren't paying attention to previous posts, but as many have pointed out the reason for the sometimes "severe" weather is easy to pin-point; La Nina…

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Facts are stubborn things.
- Ronald Reagan

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

TheGreatJuju 28 Apr 2011 20:37

People are gonna tell you this weather is normal and happens all the time, it don't :)

It does.

there is something very wrong with it

No, there really isn't, and I had a tornado fly over my house the other day.

I am just waiting to find someone that will actually tell me what and why this is happening

See the posts above, and I'm pretty sure this has been discussed before. Exactly what kind of answer are you looking for?

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"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Haustier 28 Apr 2011 21:51

Im afraid i have to agree with Emmy, but i would also like to note that im not concerned about it.
The Hurricanes going on right now in America is perfectly normal this time of year. The only thing that is different this time, is that they are above average. I cant see why you would link this with worlds end, but it's true that the hurricanes are more violent then ever. So please guys..

My source? To days News.

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- “I fear one day I'll meet God, he'll sneeze and I won't know what to say.”

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Astrogeek 28 Apr 2011 22:07

The Hurricanes going on right now in America

Tornadoes, not hurricanes.

but it's true that the hurricanes are more violent then ever.

Really? Check out this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_records

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"Do you ever think about things you do think about?" - Henry Drummond to Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind

Last edited on 28 Apr 2011 22:13 by Astrogeek Show more

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

TheGreatJuju 28 Apr 2011 22:12

I cant see why you would link this with worlds end, but it's true that the hurricanes are more violent then ever.

That's a pretty sweeping claim. According to whom? These definitely aren't the worst storms we've seen in Arkansas, and I've lived through a lot of them.

My source? To days News.

Someone on the news claimed that "hurricanes [or tornadoes or storms in general] are move violent than ever?" Who, and what supports that claim?

"Above average" isn't "different." In fact, roughly half of the constituent parts of any average will be "above average," by definition.

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"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Haustier 28 Apr 2011 22:52

Tornadoes, not hurricanes.

Sorry my mistake :)

Here's a report for you: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/severe.weather/index.html?hpt=T1

As mentioned i dont see any reason to link this to worlds end, but reporters are saying the weather is above average, so denying totally that something is different.. Yearh well.. Hope you get my point. Not concerned, just pointing out.

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- “I fear one day I'll meet God, he'll sneeze and I won't know what to say.”

Last edited on 28 Apr 2011 22:52 by Haustier Show more

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

bikenbeer2000 28 Apr 2011 22:59

but reporters are saying the weather is above average

Where I live, the temperature is above average. Another day it will be below average.
I don't really see anything to get excited about.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Astrogeek 28 Apr 2011 23:16

That report states:

"This could be one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in the nation's history by the time it's over," CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris said.

I agree with him, it will be one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in the nation's history. I think it would have to be a lot worse to match up with some of the outbreaks listed in Wikipedia.

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"Do you ever think about things you do think about?" - Henry Drummond to Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Rita Sue 28 Apr 2011 23:32

I just checked out the wiki page you mention… It is very interesting, Astrogeek!

I didn't know they recorded tornadoes in the late 1600's in MA! I can imagine that there have been tornadoes a whooooole lot worse before we even got here!

If I'm not mistaken, the 'super outbreak' that hit in 1974 almost completely destroyed Xenia, Ohio?

Even if storms were increasing… Could it possibly just be a natural cycle?

Yes, Juju… A tornado went over our house yesterday, too! (no one was hurt) I have been through about 6 tornadoes that I can remember since I was 5 years old. My grandparents and great grandparents also have wild tornado stories to tell, also. It just comes with living in the south & midwest!

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"FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real" - Unknown
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" - Carl Sagan
"Your leftovers called… They want their tin foil back." - Personal note to doomsayers.

Last edited on 28 Apr 2011 23:33 by Rita Sue Show more

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Tomy2011 28 Apr 2011 23:26

above average

Every number can be "above average". Why is that special? In THIS year, the number of tornadoes are high, but last year it wasn't and there's no reason to think next year the numbers will increase until they are sky-high.

Hope you get my point.

I got your point. You're just "afraid", as you said on your last post. Yes, I think we're playing with the weather, releasing CO² to the atmosphere, accelerating (not causing) the global warming and, therefore, changing the weather patterns in many places.
But, no, the tornadoes are not an evidence of the global warming at all. "Above average" isn't a reliable proof to the scientists.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

TheGreatJuju 28 Apr 2011 23:28

but reporters are saying the weather is above average, so denying totally that something is different..

"Above average" is not different or unusual or in any way surprising. Like I said, roughly half of the values in any average will be "above average," by the very definition of average.

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"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Gary A 28 Apr 2011 23:38

I'm sorry I just don't see how anyone could be worried about weather. Granted I see nothing but rain were I live and I don't see much of hurricanes and tornadoes, but every time I do see one it seems to be filmed in the U.S. Isn't there hurricane seasons in the U.S? Honestly, anything that isn't defined as "normal" seems to be freaking people out.

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The great thing about science is, it's true whether you believe in it or not.

jack (guest) 30 Apr 2011 03:34

Just listen to the first part if your worried about specific tornados on the rise.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/04/29/gps.bjorn.lomborg.cnn

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Awesomeee 29 Apr 2011 19:03

Yes the weather is pretty bad

but it was like this all the time we just did not know about it, and i heard that the tornado outbreak was the 2nd biggest since tracking began in 1950

Its not like this did not heppan before…

If we did not have the media i would be relaxing in miami beach while alabama was getting hit by killer tornadoes and i would not know about it

*Slips juice*

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Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Tomy2011 29 Apr 2011 19:07

Yes, it happened before, of course.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

sunshineysee 30 Apr 2011 03:11

I am a crazy person when it comes to tornados. I am jumping in the tub with a mattress at the first loud crack of thunder… so anytime there is a storm I am glued to the weather man. News channels love people like me, hence media circus. Its like a bad car wreck, I just gotta look. Even if its far far away. Weather is common and has always been here. 24 hour news and weather channels are very new. That's whys it seems so rampant. If there were reporters 300 years ago you would realize this stuff happens all the time.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

sunshineysee 30 Apr 2011 03:55

Also… there are more people and homes to make weather events more catastrophic. In 1800 if a tornado plowed through my hometown, it might uproot trees, displace some animals. Blow a few teepees down. If one came yesterday there would be millions of dollars in damage and (hopefully never) lives lost. Its us that have changed and the easy way we get info, not mother nature

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Alene Y 30 Apr 2011 04:16

I looked up the 10 deadliest tornadoes today. They were
1) 1925 - 695 deaths
2) 1840 - 317
3) 1896 - 255
4) 1936 - 216
5) 1936 - 203
6) 1947 - 181
7) 1908 - 143
8) 1899 - 117
9) 1953 - 115
10) 1953 - 114

It looks like the Alabama ones will take over 3rd place in the deadliest list. I didn't look up the costliest ones. I know the 1966 Topeka, Kansas was the costliest at the time it occurred. If updated to today's costs, it is still among the top few.

I grew up in Kansas, but the closest have I been to a tornado (actually several funnels) was in Knoxville, Tennessee. One touched down six blocks past my house. I was in my hallway while they were going past. Every now and then I would open the door to the bathroom so I could hear it through the window. That was in the early nineties.
I did get to watch one skirting around Hays, Kansas. I made sure I stayed close enough to get to the basement if it changed direction, but it didn't.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

sunshineysee 30 Apr 2011 04:35

Man i really must have a thing tonight for news bashing. Anyone worried about weather needs to remember that when something happens that gets the general publics attention, they wilL MILK it. I bet there will be another tornado, I mean its spring. Warm gulf air + dry cool northern air = tornado. When this tornado happens, you will hear about it no matter what F scale it is. You will hear it and listen and keep watching because that's the news right now till something else happens that gets the medias attention, then you will take notice of that new thing.

I haven't researched this or anything but thought it was interesting; Several years ago I heard (via news, ha) that while it seemed kidnappings where happening all over the place, all time, actually the frequency had dropped a lot. Media was just broadcasting anytime it happened. I imagine, ironically, that it dropped because of coverage. Someone goes missing, the entire nation knows about it. Probably across the pond too. Everyone has there eye out.

Look at japan. Its old news now. Very sad old news. You might get an update but not like it was. And after japan you heard about any earthquake that happened anywhere. They happen everyday but you won't hear about one till its "big enough". Its a circle.

Sorry guys. I guess I needed to get all that out. I feel much better. I'm going to make a news channel that only reports on good things like a tiger that nurses puppies who lost their mom, or boy scouts helping old ladies across busy streets. Also sorry about errors. I'm on my phone. To lazy to correct.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Alene Y 30 Apr 2011 04:43

There will be lots more of them, as there are every year. Maybe the Chicken Littles will get tired of flapping about every time it rains or the wind blows. I can always dream, anyway.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

sunshineysee 30 Apr 2011 04:44

Alene you must be a thrill seeker. Opening your door so you could hear it!??!? Im in Texas so we get our share. I get so scared while I am hunkered down in the bathroom waiting it out, that if there was a way I would flush myself down that toilet to get away from the roaring sound. You are much more brave than I.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Alene Y 30 Apr 2011 05:13

I guess I am somewhat of an "adventure junkie." I used to have to go to Nogales, Arizona to a plant we had there. I would go across the border into Mexico with a friend whenever I was there. One evening after I got back to my hotel, my friend called and told me that right after we had come back, they had closed the border crossing and the Mexican police were there. I said, "Oh darn! We missed it1" Her response was, "Are you crazy? You don't want to get stuck in a Mexican jail." I, of course thinking it had any bearing on the matter, said, "Why would that happen? We didn't do anything." Well, she set me straight on that and I decided maybe it was a good thing that we missed it.
I wasn't listening to the tornado for excitement though. That was curiosity. I wanted to hear what they really sounded like and also to monitor what it seemed to be doing. I would just listen for a moment, then close the door again. I didn't leave the hallway until it was over.

I also trekked across several miles of old lave flow, skirting arount the foot of Mauna Ulu, which was still smoking after its eruption of the previous year, to get as close as I safely could to watch the eruption of Pu'u O. That was exciting. I figured that if there was any danger they wouldn't let tourists go there. It was a bit scary when my foot would break through the lava crust, but of course there wasn't any hot lava there from a year-old eruption.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

sunshineysee 30 Apr 2011 04:50

Now that THE WEDDING is done, 24/7 news can concentrate on scaring people again.

Re: What's with all this severe weather?

Alene Y 30 Apr 2011 05:14

How true.