2022 Super Outbreak (ESPLAR Universe)

'''DISCLAIMER: As with all events in this wiki, this event is fictional and must not be used as a resource for real tornado outbreaks. NONE of the content here is to be believed to be real forecasts for inclement weather.'''

(WIP)

The 2022 Super Outbreak is the largest tornado outbreak in recorded US history, with 465 tornadoes in a single 24-hour period, and over 620+ tornadoes over a three day period spanning from April 23-25, 2022. The outbreak spanned a vast swath from Texas to New York spanning 28 states including the District of Columbia, with 57 EF4 tornadoes, and 15 EF5 tornadoes recorded over the course of the outbreak. The strongest tornado, an EF5 traveling from Effingham, Illinois to just south of Pendleton, Indiana, recorded sustained winds of >210 mph, leveling the city of Terre Haute, IN, destroying its High-Speed rail station under construction, and came alarmingly close to the city of Indianapolis. One EF5 tornado (Taylorville-Moweaqua-Tuscola) came within 23 miles of damaging the Central Illinois Speedrome south of Decatur, while an EF4 tornado in North Carolina (Belmont-Concord) came close to damaging Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was expected to host the ESPLAR Elite Series in October that year. Other ESPLAR tracks across the US were not as lucky; North Wilkesboro Speedway, which was undergoing renovation, was damaged by a short-but devastating EF3 tornado that touched down southwest of Moravian Falls, NC. Another EF3 tornado rendered Martinsville Speedway inoperable and was unable to host the ESPLAR East Regionals for 6 months. The worst fate suffered by all of the ESPLAR tracks was Kansas Speedway, obliterated by an EF5 which also heavily damaged the city of Lawrence, KS, dissipating south of Excelsior Springs, MO. In total, 12 ESPLAR tracks were affected, 3 of which suffered damage, and one (Kansas Speedway) was destroyed.

While over 10,000 people were injured, only 104 people were killed, mostly in the EF3 tornado that formed in Abilene, TX that surprised the residents of the city which left them with little time to prepare, killing 34 people. The tornado goes on to Breckenridge, TX where it dissipated. Now ESPLAR Elite Series driver Morgan Rordenman, competing in Formula Beta and on an off-week break, was injured in the EF5 Massillon, OH tornado that tore through Stark County, OH and leveled Massilon, nearly destroying Canton as well. He barely survived the tornado after trying to escape the tornado while trying to chase it to share to the ESPLAR Adventurers' Guild.

Prelude
On the week leading up to the 2022 super outbreak, models from the Altruras Meteorological Agency, or AMA, indicated the "strong possibility" of a historic tornado outbreak in the southeastern United States, but what the models did not tell the AMA was that the risk of severe weather was shifting northwest, day by day. By 21 April, AMA models lined up with weather models in the mainland US, which were predicting a massive severe weather outbreak through 34 states including the District of Columbia. A cold front had established a jet stream stretching from Corpus Christi, TX, to Richmond, VA which collided with warm, moist air that resulted from a low front in the Gulf of Mexico. Warm dry air had been moving in from Mexico, creating the perfect conditions for a tornado outbreak not just in the southeast, but across the Great Plains, Midwest, the South, and the Mid and Lower Atlantic.

23 April
On the 23rd, the SPC Day 1 convective outlook indicated "High" risk for large portions of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, with moderate risk for outlying areas, including Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Enhanced risk was present in Virginia, Kentucky and Texas.

24 April
After over 90 tornadoes touched down in the southeast US the previous day, the jet stream shifted northwest, crossing from New Mexico into New York. The SPC Day 1 convective outlook specified "High" risk areas stretching from eastern New Mexico up to western Pennsylvania, covering New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 12 states are specified in the high risk zone, the highest in recorded history. In the moderate risk, Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee are included; an additional 11 states are now advised to watch for possible tornadoes. There was also a "hatched" zone of maxed probability for thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes in a region stretching from eastern Kansas, northern and central Missouri, southern Iowa, central Illinois, and western Indiana. This new zone is warned to expect tornadoes that could range from EF4-EF5.

25 April
The jet stream now shifts north, with a "High" risk now present for a diminished area covering South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

Ocala-Marion, FL
Among the first tornadoes to touch down in the 2022 Super Outbreak was an EF3 that first touched down north of York, FL in Marion County. At 10:23 AM EDT, Jacksonville radar detected a rapidly-intensifying thunderstorm near Inglis, FL in neighboring Levy County. By 11:00 AM EDT, the storm produced a hook pattern, prompting a tornado warning for central and western Marion County. A funnel was observed near Chatmire, and the tornado began rotating just as the storm reached York. Moving northeast, the storm intensified to produce EF3-level damage in the area. It prompted a tornado emergency for the city of Ocala, but the tornado missed the city centre by two miles. Regardless, numerous buildings in the north of Ocala were considerably damaged. Two people were injured by falling trees, and another was injured in a car accident trying to escape the tornado. The tornado dissipated at the Ocklawaha River.

Wellborn-Five Points, FL
At 11:21 AM EDT, a rapidly intensifying thunderstorm in Taylor County, FL began exhibiting hook-like specifications as it crossed into Lafayette and Suwanee counties, FL.

Rating: EF4; Distance: 45.20 mi (Irwin Ave NW, north of Mayo FL -> north of Fanny Bay, FL)

Abilene-Breckenridge, TX
Early on the 24th of April, a tornado watch was issued for most of western and west-central Texas, including the cities of Abilene, San Angelo, Midland-Odessa, Lubbock and Amarillo (The watch also included parts of eastern New Mexico). For such a wide area, the watch also indicated a "high probability of intense, long-tracked tornadoes". The first line of thunderstorms after this issuance near Snyder, TX failed to produce much in terms of severe weather.

At 2:02 AM CDT, a sever thunderstorm line began developing rapidly south of Sweetwater, TX. This prompted a severe thunderstorm warning for Nolan and Taylor counties in central Texas. The storm was initially weak until it again intensified as it neared Abilene, TX. A tornado warning was issued for Taylor, Jones, Shackelford, and Callahan counties, but a tornado touched down right in the middle of Abilene at 2:40 AM CDT. The tornado intensified rapidly producing EF3-level damage in Westwood Richland and North College neighborhoods. Caught by surprise, 34 people died in Abilene as the tornado barreled through the north portion of the city. Of these 34, 9 were on a bus that flipped over as the tornado traveled through Texas Highway 277 south of the N 10th street exit.

The tornado traveled for 56.5 miles before dissipating south of Breckenridge. The rating for this tornado is EF3 although EF4 status is still disputed as of 2023.