PSA for fans going to Houston: tornadoes possible today
Because of course.
Stay safe out there.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:05 PM ^
Michigan vs. Tornados
January 8th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
Assuming the game is allowed to start, get the ball first and get an early lead if possible... just in case.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:12 PM ^
I'm taking Michigan -7.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
F5 tornado is +160 on the money line.
January 8th, 2024 at 3:16 PM ^
What if the tornado is named “Tornado Ditka?”
January 8th, 2024 at 12:05 PM ^
Fergodsakes... I have never looked at a non-hurricane forecast for an indoor game and actually thought "yeah that could impact the logistics of the game."
National Weather Service says "Strong Tornadoes likely." Weather Channel says "look out for powerful tornadoes."
January 8th, 2024 at 2:57 PM ^
A Tornado Watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center out of Norman, OK, a branch of NOAA that handles that. The local NWS in Houston will monitor the line of thunderstorms which was to the NW and should arrive around the 4 PM hour.
There already has been several heavy downpours since this morning. A 1PM local, it was 73 deg a a 90% humidity. A strong cold front sweep through the Lone Star state is triggering the severe weather and the temperature will drop into the upper 50s by the time the game ends. Leaving Houston tomorrow morning will be in the 40s with a 20-30 mph wind, but skies will be mostly clear.
A Tornado Warning would prompt some impact to pregame activities but the severe line should be past before kickoff.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
This bodes well for our offense and not theirs.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
If the tornado takes down the NRG it does not bode well for anybody.
They'll close the roof if it's nasty out.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Pretty sure it's a joke.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
Subtle.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
Dome.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Retractable roof
January 8th, 2024 at 12:29 PM ^
How does NFG not know NRG has a roof?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:39 PM ^
And what about his 6 upvotes when there are three replies pointing this out?
January 8th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Orji and Mullings could run over a tornado, and nothing short of F5 is going to bring Corum down.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
that's right. cause Wolverines are coming to town, and Hell's coming with them
January 8th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
Oh that's just swell.
With 30 seconds remaining in the game Washington is up by 4 points, but Michigan has driven down the field and has a first down on the three yard line. JJ is about to hand off the ball to Corum for the winning TD.
A tornado suddenly forms near the stadium, blows out the electrical power system, tossing cars like confetti, and the game is stopped and called for the Huskies.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:26 PM ^
Oh god. Jim already lost a championship because the lights went out in the middle of the game.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:02 PM ^
Yeah seriously, that extra time to regroup was such a huge advantage for John.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
Seems like a good cover for sabotage by the NCAA rules committee.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:17 PM ^
Hold up, hold up. What if the tornado was named Tornado Harbaugh?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
OK, Tornado Harbaugh vs God in a golf match...
January 8th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^
Ditka!
January 8th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
The only tornado in that area tonight will be Mason Graham.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
Looks like the afternoon will be rough there. Weather.com predicts that the storm will finish passing through before kickoff.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
I’m sure Tony Pettiti is on his way right now to suspend Harbaugh, because checking the weather report gives Michigan an unfair advantage.
biggest scandal in sports history. Also a player safety issue: if Michigan knows that there will be a tornado and Washington doesn’t, Washington players might end up wandering around outside. Clearly have to suspend Harbaugh for this
January 8th, 2024 at 12:26 PM ^
Tornados are an actual threat to player safety, so Tony Pettiti doesn’t know what they are
January 8th, 2024 at 12:49 PM ^
Worse. Someone sent him screen shots of the weather from a smart phone. Sure every coach has access to that info but it still goes against the spirit of the rule. Does it sound this dumb when they say it?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
A paywalled article about tornado warnings? Way to go, Houston Chronicle
January 8th, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
Sorry - I only gave the page a few seconds to load and didn't see it was paywalled.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
Depending on what browser you're running, you could give yourself a quality of life boost by adding an extension that blocks scripts by default. (I was able to see the article.)
January 8th, 2024 at 2:59 PM ^
You don't need the Houston Chronicle for that kind of info. Just google NWS Houston and you should get the weather service office there which has a live radar loop plus live severe updates.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
Well it is Texas. The last time I was in Houston there were tornadoes then too. Sounds about right.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
If the sky turns green, it might just be a release from the chemical plants.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
For those who are flying into Houston today or expecting someone who is flying in, there is ground stop issued for both airports due to thunderstorms in the area.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
If you go to Texas and there isn't a tornado, did you really go to Texas? I've been to Texas 5 times and on four of those visits there was a tornado; the other time there was a blizzard. Sarcasm aside, everyone be safe and have a great time.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
And the name of the tornado is Blake Corum.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
NOAA’s storm prediction center has a convective - ie tornados - outlook. It’s showing enhanced for Houston, which is 1 step up from slight. Living in tornado country, enhanced could get schools closed/let out early because lawyers, but it’s not worrisome. Moderate is when we get nervous.
& the NWS Houston has a severe weather outlook for today. These are basically the bluf for the briefings what local EMS, schools, etc get when bad weather is forecast. Again, today isn’t stuff that usually gets us nervous.
& for those who don’t live in tornado country (like Michigan), even if tornado watches are issued later today, that’s pretty standard because something could pop up. It’s when the warnings are issued & the sirens go off that - at least in my county - get us to turn on the tv & see where the track is.
if there is bad weather while at the stadium - inner halls & bathrooms are usually the shelters.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
Thanks for this. The local perspective is always helpful.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
Forecast at the moment is for the front to pass through around dinner time and then the weather should stabilize. So tailgating would be most impacted.
Think victory.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
Wow.
Because of course.
One more thing for the team to rise above.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:05 PM ^
This shit doesn't happen if they play the championship game at Michigan stadium.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
We are the storm.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:23 PM ^
Tornado warnings will prolong drives. This benefits us.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:26 PM ^
WE ARE THE TORNADO!
January 8th, 2024 at 1:33 PM ^
Those tornadic supercells are quite isolated so the odds are very low a tornado will hit the stadium. I would not worry too much about it. If it was an open air stadium, I'd be more worried about lightning suspending the game for long periods of time. I'm glad it's indoors!
January 8th, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
Abnormal pressure volatility around game time more likely to negatively affect finely-calibrated passing offense
advantage: M
January 8th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
I called Michael Barrett - He's re-routing the weather system over the Gulf.