Wednesday, April 20, 2011

April 20: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #5


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 172
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   405 PM EDT WED APR 20 2011
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          CENTRAL AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 405 PM UNTIL
   1100 PM EDT.
   
   HAIL TO 0.5 INCH IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 60
   STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
   ALTOONA PENNSYLVANIA TO 45 MILES NORTH OF WILKESBARRE
   PENNSYLVANIA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
   ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 168...WW 169...WW
   170...WW 171...
   
   DISCUSSION...LOW-TOPPED TSTMS ARE GRADUALLY INTENSIFYING THIS
   AFTERNOON ALONG COLD FRONT PUSHING EWD ACROSS THE REGION.  BREAKS IN
   THE CLOUDS HAVE ALLOWED FOR A CORRIDOR OF STRONGER DIABATIC WARMING
   WHICH IS SUPPORTING SBCAPE OF AROUND 500 J/KG.  GIVEN THE STRONG WLY
   DEEP-LAYER WIND FIELD OBSERVED BY AREA VWPS...THE POTENTIAL WILL
   EXIST FOR SMALL SUPERCELLS OR BOWING STRUCTURES WITH THE PRIMARY
   HAZARD BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 0.5 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 350. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 27045.

April 20: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #4


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 171
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   225 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL TEXAS
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 225 PM UNTIL
   1000 PM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 60
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 105 MILES SOUTHWEST
   OF SAN ANGELO TEXAS TO 110 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF JUNCTION
   TEXAS.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED
   WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 168...WW 169...WW 170...
   
   DISCUSSION...DEEPENING CUMULUS WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE WAY TO TSTM
   DEVELOPMENT ALONG LOW-LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE WHICH HAS BECOME
   QUASI-STATIONARY.  AMBIENT WARM SECTOR ENVIRONMENT IS CHARACTERIZED
   BY STEEP LAPSE RATES WITH MLCAPE OF 3000-4000+ J/KG.  GIVEN THE
   PRESENCE OF 30-35 KT EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR...THE POTENTIAL WILL EXIST
   FOR ORGANIZED MULTICELL AND SOME SUPERCELL STRUCTURES CAPABLE OF
   LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 27025.

April 20: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #3


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 170
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   200 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          ARKANSAS
          FAR SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
          FAR NORTHEAST TEXAS
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 200 PM UNTIL
   900 PM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES NORTH OF DE
   QUEEN ARKANSAS TO 60 MILES EAST OF LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS.  FOR A
   COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
   UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 168...WW 169...
   
   DISCUSSION...ELEVATED TSTMS ARE INCREASING IN COVERAGE THIS
   AFTERNOON N OF SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT...LIKELY BEING DRIVEN BY A BAND
   OF ENHANCED ASCENT TIED TO LOW-AMPLITUDE IMPULSE MOVING ACROSS THE
   TX PNHDL AND OK.  GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE
   RATES...MUCAPE OF 1000-2000 J/KG AND 40-50+ KT OF EFFECTIVE BULK
   SHEAR...SETUP WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF HAIL TO
   THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 27035.

April 20: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #2


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 169
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   235 PM EDT WED APR 20 2011
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          ALABAMA
          SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 235 PM UNTIL
   1000 PM EDT.
   
   HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES SOUTH OF
   COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI TO 35 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF ALBANY
   GEORGIA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
   ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 168...
   
   DISCUSSION...TSTMS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND
   INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON ALONG OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXTENDING ALONG A
   LINE FROM MEI-MGM-E OF CSG...AND WITHIN A MODERATELY TO STRONGLY
   UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH MLCAPE VALUES OF 2000-3000 J/KG. 
   ADDITIONAL...ELEVATED TSTMS WILL ALSO LIKELY MOVE INTO PARTS OF NWRN
   AL...ROOTED WITHIN STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATE ENVIRONMENT. 
   TROPOSPHERIC WIND FIELD IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON
   WITH PROGRESSION OF UPPER TROUGH AXIS AWAY FROM THE AREA. 
   NONETHELESS...SUFFICIENT VERTICAL SHEAR WILL EXIST FOR MULTICELL
   STORMS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 27030.

April 20: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #1


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 168
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   105 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          FAR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
          NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
          MISSISSIPPI
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 105 PM UNTIL
   800 PM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES SOUTH OF
   COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI TO 60 MILES SOUTH OF MONTICELLO ARKANSAS. 
   FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
   OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
   
   DISCUSSION...TSTMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THIS
   AFTERNOON ALONG SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT AND PRECEDING CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW
   BOUNDARIES.  MODIFICATION OF 12Z JAN SOUNDING FOR CURRENT WARM
   SECTOR CONDITIONS SUGGESTS THAT ENVIRONMENT IS ALREADY STRONGLY
   UNSTABLE WITH MLCAPE OF AROUND 3000 J/KG.  WHEN COUPLED WITH THE
   STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES AND 30-40 KT OF DEEP WLY
   SHEAR...ENVIRONMENT WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCELL AND ORGANIZED
   MULTICELLS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 27030.
   

April 20:Tornado Warning- Near Mississippi State, MS


...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
OKTIBBEHA...WEST CENTRAL LOWNDES AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CLAY
COUNTIES...

AT 528 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD.
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THE CAMPUS OF MISSISSIPPI STATE
UNIVERSITY ON THE EAST SIDE OF STARKVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SESSUMS...ARTESIA...TIBBEE AND BENT OAK

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
HAIL TO THE SIZE OF TENNIS BALLS...AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE STARKVILLE AREA.

April 20: Tornado Warning- West Kimble County, TX


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANGELO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN KIMBLE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 520 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JUNCTION...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

  IN ADDITION TO DANGEROUS TORNADIC WINDS...OTHER HAZARDS INCLUDE...
  HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL
  DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.
  POTENTIALLY DEADLY LIGHTNING.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  JUNCTION BY 600 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 441 AND 457.

April 19 Tornado in Girard, IL rated an EF-3

A tornado that hit Girard, Illinois was preliminarily rated an EF-3 tornado by the local NWS office.
This displays the amazing force by the storms yesterday.
EF-3 tornadoes produce winds 136-165 mph.

Potentially Significant Tornado Event April 24-26

There is a potentially significant severe weather event unfolding for the April 24-26 period.
Many are comparing this to the Historic April 1974 tornado outbreak.
However, we are quite a ways away.
Do keep a watch on this- it has definitely caught my eye.
4 days out
5 days out

Update on the tornado warning posts

After seeing how many views the tornado warnings netted, I have elected to post tornado warnings whenever tornado warnings happen.
This is to help people stay safe.
I will also post damage reports.
Because there are so many posts issued with the name tornado warning, I have put up a search box. Simple search your area and you may come up in a post issued by The Weather Centre.
Thanks for making us your severe weather headquarters.