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This is the time of year that severe weather is experienced throughout much of the middle western states, the well known tornado alley. This years tornado season is still young and has seemed to be an extremely bad one with many records for number of tornadoes being broken and many appearing in areas that have not seen one for many years.

May we all be praying for these people that are being hit by these storms.

At Least 7 Dead, Town Leveled By Tornado
At Least One Person Reported Killed

GREENSBURG, Kan. --  Authorities have said tornadoes have killed at least seven people in southwestern Kansas. They include six in Kiowa County, where the town of Greensburg was leveled, and one in nearby Stafford County.

Red Cross officials said that 90 percent of the town has been destroyed or damaged. City officials said at least 50 people have been taken to hospitals in surrounding areas, including 16 in critical condition.

Greensburg's own hospital collapsed. About 30 people were pulled from the wreckage, but most of the injuries are reported to be minor.

The tornado struck last night. It was part of a storm front that spawned tornadoes along a wide swath of southwest and central Kansas.

Much of the downtown was destroyed, including city hall.

The town has a population of about 1,600. It's located in the southwestern part of the state, about 110 miles from Wichita.

Weather officials confirm 3 tornadoes in southwestern Illinois

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service are confirming three small tornadoes in rural parts of southwestern Illinois this evening.
Authorities say there are no reports of injuries or damage.

Meteorologist Ben Miller says the first tornado touched down for about five minutes in an open field about five miles west of Gillespie in Macoupin County.

The second tornado was spotted in an open field about three miles east of Wood River in Madison County.

The third funnel cloud touched down two miles northeast of Shipman in Macoupin County.

Tornadoes Damage Structures In NW Oklahoma

At least two tornadoes touched down in northwestern Oklahoma Friday night, damaging some structures but causing no injuries.

One twister touched down west of Arnett in Ellis County about 6:20 p.m. and churned through mostly open fields for about 20 minutes before dissipating.

According to the National Weather Service, another tornado developed briefly east of Arnett after the first one fizzled out and damaged two buildings and a residence.

Ellis County emergency management director Russell Miller said windows were blown out of a house, but it remained structurally intact as the storm roared through. Miller said some barns, outbuildings and vehicles were destroyed.

Miller said power lines and trees also were knocked down, but there was no other major damage.

The storm initially blossomed in the Texas Panhandle and marched northeastward into western Oklahoma, dropping heavy rain and large hail.

A tornado watch is in effect until early 2 a.m. for 25 counties in western and central Oklahoma. It includes the cities of Enid and Lawton and the western fringes of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Weekend-Long Tornado Threat

A potent storm emerging out of the Rockies will slam the Plains with more severe weather, ranging from tornadoes to flash flooding, today. A second storm following in the footsteps of the first system will keep the threat of severe weather and tornadoes alive over the Plains Sunday.

A prolonged severe weather event that includes destructive tornadoes is currently underway across the Plains. Severe thunderstorms started firing across the region Friday afternoon and will continue to do so through the weekend as a series of storm systems will emerge out of the Rockies.

With the arrival of a potent storm, the Plains will have to endure another round of severe weather today. Intense thunderstorms that ignited late Friday will also still impact the region this morning. According to the Severe Weather Center, the strongest storms will be capable of producing baseball-sized hail, damaging wind gusts and destructive tornadoes. Since the storms could potentially also drop drenching downpours, Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect where the soil is already saturated from recent rain.

The Midwest Regional News story states that the severe weather will persist from South Dakota to western Texas tonight, then pound the central and southern Plains Sunday into Sunday night with the arrival of a second storm system. A couple of cities set to be under the gun for the rough weather at the end of the weekend will be Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas.

Any of the watches or warnings listed on the Severe Weather Center's page should not be taken lightly as today's potent storm has already been the culprit behind powerful tornadoes that fired Friday afternoon. According to CNN.com, one such twister swept through Greensburg, Kan., destroying or heavily damaging at least 75 percent of the town. One person died with over five dozens others injured. 30 people that were trapped inside the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital have been rescued.

The News Summaries page further recaps the severe weather from Friday, including a report of 3-inch diameter hail.

According to the Midwest Regional News story, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes will not be the only adverse weather that the Plains will have to endure this weekend. Heavy rain will pour down across the northern High Plains today, heightening the threat for localized flash flooding. Winds will also gust strongly across parts of the Rockies. Snowfall in the central Rocky Mountains has prompted many winter-related watches and warnings, which are shown on the Severe Weather Center's page.

The prolonged storminess across the Plains is the result of a strong area of high pressure blocking the typical west to east flow of storm systems. The high is centered over Eastern Canada. For the Northeast, the presence of the stubborn high has generally resulted in recent beautiful days, according to the East Regional News story.

There are now 10 people confirmed dead but the authorities are not finished looking through the debris and there are still people missing, one of these is a 14 yr old girl. The authorities are having difficulty searching as they keep getting stopped by the weather. The town is 90 to 95 per cent destroyed. There has been a mandatory evacuation of the area as there is more such weather expected today and tonight there.

My prayers go out to these people.

Brothers and Sisters,

I've lived in the heart of tornado alley all of my life, so I'll tell you that tragedy here during this time of the year is pretty common. My heart does go out to these people, and I can assure you that they appreciate your prayers.

I live in Southwest Oklahoma, and we have rough weather hitting all around us right now, but this is normal for us. This is a reminder about how uncertain life really is, not just for people in tornado alley. Weather is just one of many things that should convince us to use each day as if it might be our last on this earth. For Christians, this should give us a burden for the lost. If we've been wanting to witness to a family member, friend, or acquaintance, we might not be here tomorrow to do it. They might not be here tomorrow to listen to us. There is always an urgency to share the GOOD NEWS, and there is always an urgency to pray for others.

Thank you in advance for your prayers for the victims of these storms. I've just seen news footage, and the survivors do need our prayers desperately. For all of us, let us please use events like this to remind us about how uncertain life is. We must not forget our priorities in this short life. Let us love one another and serve GOD while we can. Tomorrow might be too late. If today is our last day in this short life "absent from the body, present with the LORD."

Love In Christ,
Tom

Matthew 22:36-40  NASB  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."