The Jarrell, TX, F5 Tornado of May 27, 1997: A Case Study

In-depth meteorological discussion of the central Texas tornado outbreak of May 27, 1997, that featured the infamous and deadly Jarrell, TX, F5. We'll discuss the meteorology behind the event and dive into some of the reasons why an environment that was initially unfavorable for significant tornadoes produced one of the more notable tornado outbreaks in recent memory. Thumbnail images via NWS Austin/San Antonio Jarrell event page (see below) and "Dead Man Walking" on YouTube (   • Jarrell Texas F5 Tornado Dead Man Walking ...  ). Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:53 Meteorological discussion 28:37 Unusual southwestward storm motion 34:54 Jarrell tornado formation mechanisms 46:53 Possible storm merger 49:28 Summary Resources: Houston and Wilhelmson 2007, Part 1: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi... Houston and Wilhelmson 2007, Part 2: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi... Houston and Wilhelmson 2002 (conference proceedings on Jarrell): https://ams.confex.com/ams/SLS_WAF_NW... Jon Davies 2002 paper on significant tornadoes in weak shear environments (including Jarrell): https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/... SPC forecaster Stephen Corfidi's 1998 paper on Jarrell: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications... NOAA service assessment on the event: https://www.weather.gov/media/publica... NWS Austin/San Antonio webpage on the event: https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-1... NWS Dallas/Fort Worth webpage on the event: https://www.weather.gov/fwd/Jarrell-T... NWS Austin/San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth interactive story map on the Jarrell event: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/... Tornado Talk webpage on the event: https://www.tornadotalk.com/central-t... May 1997 Storm Data publication: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/... Bluestein and Jain 1985 paper on storm propagation methods: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/jou... Wakimoto and Wilson 1989 paper on non-supercell tornado formation: https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/jou... Lemon and Doswell 1979 paper on tornadogenesis: https://www.atmos.albany.edu/facstaff...