SALT LAKE CITY — The pattern is clear: Late-season weather bolstering a flooding threat in Utah precedes dangerous tornadoes in the South and Midwest.

That means tornado-ravaged regions in the South will still be bracing for more deadly weather as emergency response teams plan how and where to help.

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Tornadoes devastate South, killing at least 251

Massive tornadoes tore a town-flattening streak across the South, killing at least 251 people in six states and forcing rescuers to carry some survivors out on makeshift stretchers of splintered debris.

Meteorologist explains patternDeadly tornadoes in the South came from weather patterns that all dumped rain and snow in Utah first. The snow expected in Utah Friday means a tornado threat in Oklahoma on Saturday and tornadoes farther east, possibly on Sunday. And a big, late-season storm forecast for Utah as late as May 9 would mean a serious tornado threat in the following days.

Air moving east from the Pacific this season is colder than usual, KSL meteorologist Dan Pope said Thursday. In Utah that means more and more rain and snow with cold air overhead at 10,000 feet that is only 9 or 10 degrees. Then, "that cold air goes east and just goes nuts" when it collides with 70- to 80-degree air coming north off the Gulf of Mexico.

Pope said a change in climate is likely the reason Gulf temperatures have been higher than usual for the past five years.

The tornado formula is present every spring, Pope said. The severity can be predicted by how large the gap is between the cold and warm air. "The last thing we need is another storm dropping snow. The last thing they need (in the southeast) is another storm coming across with cold air."

Extreme weather patterns are everywhere. Pope said Utah, on average, sees its last snow by April 18. A May 24 snowstorm in 2010 set an all-time record. "And here we are at April 28 and still seeing snow," Pope said.

Utahns reach out to tornado victims, loved ones

People in Utah and across the country are reaching out to the victims of those storms. Some families have been trying to reach relatives in the affected areas, making sure loved ones are safe.

From the Archives:

1999 Salt Lake Tornado

A tornado lashed through Salt Lake City over 10 years ago, killing one man, destroying pavilion tents from a convention at the Salt Palace and damaging the Delta Center, the state Capitol grounds, Avenues homes and other sites. Here is a look back at the tornado we had back in 1999, and feel free to submit your photos from your archives!

When Cindy Hammons saw images of the storm's devastation happening near her hometown. "It just struck immediate fear in me, to know what was going on," she said.

Hammons lives in Utah now, but she spent the day messaging friends and family and loved ones back home, trying to make sure everyone was OK.

"I started Facebooking a lot, extremely frantic, just nerve-wracking, concerned about my immediate family and friends," Hammons said.

Amidst the devastation and power outages, many of them were still able to communicate with her through the web on their smartphones.

"I was hearing that it's coming close," she said. "I was hearing that the devastation around where they were was really bad... but luckily they didn't feel the direct effects of the tornado."

LDS Church issues statement

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday regarding tornado damage in the South, saying individual church members have been affected and relief efforts are being assessed.

"All missionaries serving in the Alabama Birmingham Mission, which includes the area most impacted by the storm, are safe and accounted for while the church continues to check on missionaries in surrounding areas," the statement said.

The homes of several church members have been damaged or lost, the statement said, and there are no reports of damage to church buildings.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those recovering from extreme weather conditions in the South," the church stated. "Church leaders continue to monitor the situation to determine how to best support relief efforts and assist those in need."

Story written with contributions from Steve Fidel, Mike Anderson and Sandra Yi.

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