Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

F5: a book review

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 1:28 PM GMT en Junio 13, 2007

F5: Devastation, Survival, and the Most Violent Tornado Outbreak of the 20th Century tells a story from the world's most violent tornado outbreak on record--the April 4, 1974 Super Outbreak. The Super Outbreak featured the most tornadoes ever recorded in a single day, 148, and also had an unprecedented number of violent F4 and F5 tornadoes--six F5 tornadoes and 24 F4 tornadoes (for comparison, the past five years have had one F5 tornado and 15 F4 tornadoes.)

The book has some excellent material discussing the "how" of tornado formation, plus an entire chapter on the life and pioneering research done by tornado researcher Dr. Theodore Fujita (Dr. Tornado). Author Mark Levine definitely did his homework, talking to many of the leading tornado researchers while writing the book. However, F5 is primarily focused on the people who lived in Limestone County, Alabama--a rural area 20 miles west of Huntsville. We get an in-depth portrayal of the lives of about 30 residents affected by the tornado before, during, and after the storm. Many chapters are spent building up to the tornadoes, painting a detailed picture of what life was like in rural Alabama for these people in the early 1970s. Levine is a gifted writer, and for those interested in the human dimensions of this great tornado disaster, this book is for you. Also, readers who appreciate poetry (the author has written three books of poems, will enjoy Levine's flowery, wordy descriptions:

The fear instilled by tornadoes, and the fascination with them, is beyond rational accounting; they are the weather watcher's equivalent of charismatic megafauna. Their aura is not difficult to fathom. Descending suddenly, menacingly, and without reliable warning, the tornado serves as a near-primal expression of the mysterious and fraught relationship between individuals and the skies above them.

The book has some rather astounding "truth is stranger than fiction" passages. The eyewitness descriptions by the survivors of their horrifying moments flying through the roaring debris-filled air as a monstrous F-5 tornado rips through their homes are particularly riveting. The most amazing part about the events in Limestone County that night was that TWO violent tornadoes--an F4 and an F5--ripped through several hours apart, hitting some of the exact same places. Levine paints a harrowing and unforgettable picture of what it was like to live through the terror of the two tornadoes. Another excerpt:

What Jerry saw was strange and wondrous. Clouds were riding across open fields to the west, moving just like clouds do across the sky. As the clouds passed a steel TVA tower, it snapped out of the ground, and began rolling across the field. A moment later, a second tower was toppled. To Jerry, the scene resembled something out of a cartoon, with the 120-foot high girders skipping like tumbleweeds.

What I didn't like about the book
While F5 is well written and absolutely fascinating in sections, I thought the book was too verbose and took too long to get to the action. I found myself skipping over some sections. The book also introduced too many characters to follow, and I got confused about who was whom. One of my many character flaws is a disinterest in poetry, and I found that the dense, flowery, poetic language of Levine interfered with my desire to see the story moved forward and straightforward science to be presented. The tornadoes don't start their rampage through Limestone County until page 119 of this long, 276-page book, which was too long to wait for my impatient blood. If you want to read a fast-paced true-life tornado drama, pick up a copy of Nancy Mathis' excellent book Storm Warning, about the May 3, 1999 Oklahoma City tornado, which I reviewed earlier this year.

Overall, I give F5 2.5 stars out of 4. If you're a poetry fan, this book deserves a higher rating. F5 was published in May 2007, and is $17.13 at amazon.com.

I'll be back Friday with my bi-monthly 2-week outlook for hurricane season. The tropics are quiet, and the models are forecasting conditions will remain quiet into next week.

Jeff Masters

Categories: Book and Movie Reviews

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1702. Bamatracker 12:49 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
korithe....if its in the gulf everyone needs to pay attention. The highest probability now is florida. But always keep an eye on it. Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1703. Drakoen 12:49 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
i still want to wait for the GFDL run before i believe this system will bypass the upper level trough. Member Since: Octubre 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010

1704. thelmores 12:49 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
If you made me guess (and you did) I'd say this is where the lowest pressure may be..... Member Since: Septiembre 8, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 3748

1706. IKE 12:49 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Posted By: jphurricane2006 at 7:48 PM CDT on June 14, 2007. well Koritheman based on the post from Adrian some of the models are forecasting it to move N and NNW am I reading that right Adrian? Yes you are! Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1707. KoritheMan 12:49 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
HurricaneFCast: True, look at Ernesto. Hit east coast and not the Gulf Coast. leftovers: Category 1 status (weak Cat 1 status) isn't an impossibility, if shear is low when this thing goes into the Gulf. I know one thing. If this thing forms, it's going to be stronger than any 40-50 mph. 60-65 is most likely. Member Since: Marzo 7, 2007 Posts: 409 Comments: 15445

1708. HurricaneFCast 12:50 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Great Close-Up Infrared Animation for the past 6 hours Member Since: Abril 20, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 1482

1709. HurricaneFCast 12:51 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
If you view that link, speed it up, and watch the left side, you'll notice the Center of Circulation appears to actually be over land..... Member Since: Abril 20, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 1482

1710. KoritheMan 12:52 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
HurricaneFCast: That'll definitely limit intensification. Still, a depression by tommorow afternoon isn't impossible. Member Since: Marzo 7, 2007 Posts: 409 Comments: 15445

1712. IKE 12:52 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Yeah...thanks Adrian for the info. Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1714. louisianaboy444 12:53 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
lol we dont want a storm here in louisiana....yes i know its interesting to watch the hurricanes but this will most likely just be a rain maker if it does develop and florida needs the rain terribly Member Since: Agosto 29, 2006 Posts: 17 Comments: 1219

1715. WPBHurricane05 12:53 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Deja vu??? Link Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1716. bappit 12:54 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
I don't know Taz. Looks like the low shear area right now is over land. Question is what will the shear be like tomorrow. I noticed on the QuikScat earlier that there are easterly winds in the Carribean and westerlies on the Pacific side. Member Since: Mayo 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4381

1717. HurricaneFCast 12:54 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Kori: Yes it definitely would, but also, another thing, Remember the GOM SST's and how warm they are compared to 2005, 2006, and pretty much any other year on record, These are the warmest June 14th SST's we've had almost ever..... :/ There are some areas of the GOM with 90 degree waters right now, most areas have SST's around the Mid 80s.. Member Since: Abril 20, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 1482

1718. WPBHurricane05 12:54 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
If you view that link, speed it up, and watch the left side, you'll notice the Center of Circulation appears to actually be over land..... I think that is the ULL... Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1719. Bamatracker 12:55 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
AHHHHH!! WPB quit pointing those storms at me! Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1720. WPBHurricane05 12:55 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
The Navy has it at 18.8/86.4 which is over water. Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1721. HurricaneFCast 12:55 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Well, I've got to go for the night, I'll be on tomorrow at some point.. =D Hang in there and keep predicting!! It works well to have several different Points of view on a subject.. Great work Everyone!! Member Since: Abril 20, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 1482

1723. IKE 12:56 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
From reading some of the Florida discussions earlier this afternoon...high pressure is suppose to build in over peninsula Florida by Sunday...should help force it north...then a trough from out west in Texas, is suppose to move east...should move it toward the northern GOM. Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1724. WPBHurricane05 12:56 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
94L is forming in the same area as Arlene (dare I say the year) and it may move along the same track. Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1726. Drakoen 12:57 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Posted By: IKE at 12:56 AM GMT on June 15, 2007. From reading some of the Florida discussions earlier this afternoon...high pressure is suppose to build in over peninsula Florida by Sunday...should help force it north...then a trough from out west inTexas, is suppose to move east...should move it toward the northern GOM. by Sunday??? isn't that a bit late? Member Since: Octubre 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010

1727. Bamatracker 12:58 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
need some help. Can anybody tell me why I can't view any loops on the NOAA sight? Suddenly started yesterday not letting me. Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1728. Drakoen 12:58 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
I wonder when they are going to do the GFDL run. Member Since: Octubre 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010

1729. IKE 12:59 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Posted By: Drakoen at 7:57 PM CDT on June 14, 2007. Posted By: IKE at 12:56 AM GMT on June 15, 2007. From reading some of the Florida discussions earlier this afternoon...high pressure is suppose to build in over peninsula Florida by Sunday...should help force it north...then a trough from out west inTexas, is suppose to move east...should move it toward the northern GOM. by Sunday??? isn't that a bit late? Depends on how fast it's moving...it's already almost Friday. Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1731. Tazmanian 12:59 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
i think we could see a cat 5 hurricane with a 882mb by tommorow afternoon Member Since: Mayo 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111355

1732. louisianaboy444 12:59 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
can i have a link to the models for this invest thanks! Member Since: Agosto 29, 2006 Posts: 17 Comments: 1219

1733. IKE 1:01 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Posted By: Tazmanian at 7:59 PM CDT on June 14, 2007. i think we could see a cat 5 hurricane with a 882mb by tommorow afternoon Jeez. It's just a mass of clouds so far. I know you're teasing, but.... Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1734. Bamatracker 1:01 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Link here is one Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1737. Bamatracker 1:02 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Link more models Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1738. WPBHurricane05 1:03 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
It is going to be a battle between a trough and a high, who will win?? Find out tonight when the GFDL releases its forecast. Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1739. hurricane23 1:03 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Member Since: Mayo 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13276

1740. WPBHurricane05 1:04 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Link If ULL goes east and 94L stays put there will be some dry air...... Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1741. WPBHurricane05 1:05 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Link Rainfall...... Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1742. Bamatracker 1:05 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
23....hell now im awake. Thats interesting that its that far west since the trend has been so far to the east. Member Since: Mayo 17, 2006 Posts: 6 Comments: 1364

1744. Drakoen 1:06 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
according to hurricane23 forecast path it seems that the high wins oh well. Should bring some nice rain to north Florida. Lets hope its just rain and not much winds. Member Since: Octubre 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010

1745. melwerle 1:06 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
ok h23, what the heck was THAT Member Since: Junio 28, 2006 Posts: 12 Comments: 1837

1746. WPBHurricane05 1:06 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Wind Swath Link Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1748. WPBHurricane05 1:07 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Should post the key to the wind swath map.....Link Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1749. WPBHurricane05 1:08 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
Winds between 30-49 MPH. Member Since: Julio 31, 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929

1751. kingstaggi 1:08 AM GMT en Junio 15, 2007
bama- try re-installing java. Member Since: Abril 30, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 0

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