#CISWS24 is the first in-person symposium since 2018 and attendance is good. I overheard that there were about 250 registrations.

First talk is NWS Indianapolis Warning Coordination Meteorologist Sam Lashley on the 50th anniversary of the April 3, 1974 Super Outbreak. #CISWS24

The NWS used teletypes until the late 80s - Lashley
Many text products still carry vestiges of that era today. - Me
#CISWS24

Fujita originally called the outbreak the "Jumbo Outbreak" because of the year (74) and third day of the fourth month (3+4=7), which reminded him of the Boeing 747. #CISWS24

Fujita originally rated the Xenia, OH tornado EF6 based on aerial survey. He adjusted it down to EF5 after an on-the-ground survey. #CISWS24

I'm always uneasy comparing tornado counts across shifts in radar technology. We're probably much better at finding the low-end (EF0-1) tornados now because we get hints on radar of where to look for them. I wonder if it's better to compare outbreaks solely on EF2+. #CISWS24

The same day of the Super Outbreak, there was also a 4.5 earthquake centered new Mattoon, Illinois. #CISWS24

Lashley says there's an emergency manager in an unspecified Ohio County that sends a drone up after almost every strong thunderstorm and finds small circulations that wouldn't have been found otherwise. #CISWS24

Up next: Greg Melo from NWS Indianapolis reviews the March 31, 2023 tornado outbreak. #CISWS24

When upper-level jet streaks are orthogonal to the warm sector, there's a higher chance for tornado outbreaks. 96% of violent outbreaks show this alignment. This has been nicknamed the "violent outbreak cross" (VOC) #CISWS24

Melo: don't overfocus on daytime heating or breaks in the clouds, especially in the early part of the convective season. Instability from moisture advection can often be a driving factor. #CISWS24

Parts of central Indiana (including Indianapolis) haven't been under a tornado warning in 5+ years.
#CISWS24 #INwx

Next up at #CISWS24, my friend Joe Nield from NWS Indianapolis covers the March 14, 2024 tornado outbreak.

Early in the March 14th event, there were several splitting storms. Typically, the left-moving storm dies off quickly, but not that day. - Nield #CISWS24

"All you can do is all you can do." Meteoroligsts can issue warnings and provide information, but the response that people take is out of their hands. This can be really frustrating. - Nield #CISWS24