Analyzing one the most active severe weather patterns in the last 5 years when AccuWeather's forecasters and field teams provided updated information to help save lives.
00:00 Huge tornado right up the road here north of Elba, Nebraska.
00:04 This outbreak of severe weather over multiple weeks was one of the most active severe weather patterns that we've had in the last five years.
00:12 I think the best way to describe the severe weather was relentless.
00:16 Our long-range forecasting department highlighted that area early in the wintertime when the spring forecast was issued.
00:24 As we get into April, it starts to spread out more. We'll start to see it expanding towards the plains, expanding toward the Ohio Valley a bit.
00:31 We've seen past what we call analog years, years that we match up to the current pattern.
00:36 Then Tornado Alley starts to activate, central and southern plains especially.
00:41 One of AccuWeather's many unique advantages is our ability to take our various experts,
00:48 some with experts in the long-range forecast, that's weeks to months in advance, to looking at the severe weather impacts that are expected over the next five days with our severe weather experts.
00:59 We think that next Friday, the severe weather will start to erupt.
01:02 It doesn't say chance, it doesn't say potential. We're saying widespread severe weather in that area.
01:10 Then on April 22nd, highlighting that we would see two weeks of high tornado production.
01:16 And then days before any other source, we put a high risk out. We're the only ones that did that.
01:21 And we made a specific map highlighting the fact that there is going to be a higher risk for tornadoes on April 26th across Nebraska and also Iowa.
01:31 Tornado Alley has definitely roared back to life after many, many quiet years.
01:35 Our experts in the field, our storm chasers, Tony Laubeck, who not only reported tornadoes on the ground, he reported it live on the AccuWeather network.
01:45 Live look, tornado emergency, tornado on the ground right now. We are verifying it here live on the AccuWeather network.
01:51 It's a fascinating process when you think about going from a forecast issued a month plus in advance and then you get into the day of.
01:58 This is indicative of a very violent storm.
02:01 That forecast culminates in you seeing this outbreak unfolding live on the network.
02:06 Just amazing scenes here from Tony. This is live right now.
02:09 They turn on the network. They see the severe weather on TV. They see those tornadoes. They hear their town names.
02:15 They are taking the action. They are getting themselves safe.
02:18 We trust our philosophy and process. And I think this is an example where the AccuWeather forecast was spot on.
02:26 We saw that once again in this most recent severe weather outbreak. One of the most devastating tornadoes with this outbreak occurred in Portage, Michigan.
02:35 AccuWeather storm warning meteorologists were able to provide exclusively 48 minutes of advance notice on that tornado.
02:42 That was double the amount of advance notice from all other known sources.
02:47 Saving their lives, saving their families' lives. That is the name of the game. That is what we are out there to do.
02:52 When we say that this severe weather outbreak is going to be permanently etched in our minds,
02:58 that shows you how memorable and impactful this time period was.
03:03 And it is just a reminder for all of us to stay weather aware with the AccuWeather forecast.
03:08 And a constant reminder of just how dangerous weather can be, but how important those proven early warnings are in saving lives.
