Holy Tornado

This isn't Kansas -- never has been. But, all of a sudden today, a tornado touched down about 1 mile from our home in Hazel Dell, Vancouver, Washington. According to the meteorologists, it wasn't even expected. I was trying to get Jordan in the car to go to a dietician consult in Portland, when some crazy thunder started to the west of us. Loud, and constant. It was very close, and it just kept cracking on and on. Also, the sky to the west was absolutely black. When the cracking stopped, the corn-size hail started, then turned into pelting rain.

Shortly after, Jordan and I were in the car heading into Portland, listening to the Severe Weather Warnings on the radio, and watching the news crews heading north to Vancouver. The funnel clouds touched down once, and tore about town for a few hours before dying out. There was quite a bit of damage to many roofs, and lots of things smashed by trees snapping like kindling. Luckily, no emergency medical services were called, and no injuries were reported.

For more on this craziness check out these links:

KGW Channel 8
KATU Channel 2
KOIN Channel 6
KPTV Channel 12
The 1972 Portland-Vancouver Tornado