Archive for the ‘Radar’ Category

A tornado watch is now in effect for portions of Oklahoma and Texas until 8pm Central time this evening.  Looks as if the main threats from these storms will be wind and hail, but an isolated tornado will be possible as low level shear increases this afternoon into the evening hours.  We will continue to monitor the threats and will update you if any of our teams end up hitting the field in this region.

Rainfall is ongoing across portions of Alabama along the state line at this hour, but the rainfall is expected to pick up this afternoon.  Another wave of energy in the upper air will swing in and cause more widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area through the early part of the day tomorrow.   Some river flooding could become a problem across western sections of the area.  Temperatures across the northern 2/3 of Alabama will remain too stable for any kind of severe activity….but things along the Gulf Coast could crank up later as the shortwave moves closer. 

The SPC upgraded a portion of the outlook area along the Gulf Coast to a slight risk around 10am this morning for the overnight hours tonight.  Shear will increase ahead of a mid level wave….as will some weak instability which could lead to a few damaging wind gusts and/or brief tornadoes.  The risk runs roughly from Mobile to Dothan and southward. 

We will likely release a full summary on the December 22nd QLCS/low topped supercell tornado event in the coming days as we get video and pictures together of the happenings of that day.  Look for it in future postings. 

Most of the active storms this afternoon are over East Mississippi and far west/south Alabama where a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until later this evening.  Several reports of wind and hail have already been received.  No major damage, but another day of the pulse severe storms in the south.  More storms are forming over portions of eastern Tuscaloosa, central Winston, and northern Cullman counties with some heavy rain and lightning involved.  Any storms will have deadly lightning potential yet again this afternoon.  Most storms will sag SSE at around 15-20 mph.  Some additional development is possible.

Showing hail here on our in house radar.  This cell is moving toward the ESE and will affect areas like Goldville and New Site soon.  Isolated large hail to quarter size and damaging wind gusts are possible.  Again, lightning and heavy rain are the main threats from these storms today.

Tornado warnings are being required across portions of PA this afternoon due to some rotating thunderstorms across the region.  Just wanted to post this to emphasize these warnings are nothing like the situations we have dealt with or even the storms the northeast dealt with just two weeks ago.  An isolated, spin up tornado is possible though.

Storms will become strong again this afternoon….especially across the east.  High winds and hail will be possible again this afternoon as they were yesterday.  Lightning will be deadly and rain will be heavy.  Monitor local media and NWS for statements regarding isolated severe warnings today.

A few warnings have been required like the one that is about to expire for Talladega County  Some hail and high winds can be expected with the heavy rain and dangerous lightning.  More if damage occurs…

Some storms this afternoon have become quite strong dropping some heavy rain, hail, and gusty winds in there wake.  The strongest storms will remain west of I-65 this afternoon and will begin to die off in a matter of an hour or two.  Remember, we are in the summer like pattern which means we won’t deal with the threat of tornadic activity due to weak upper level winds for several months unless we are impacted with a landfalling tropical system….which doesn’t seem likely any time soon.  Have a great Friday and enjoy some rainfall.

Last night….a large supercell developed along the Nebraska/Iowa border and completely raked West-Central and Northern Iowa with several large tornadoes and a swath of damage.  We have some interesting radar imagery we wanted to share to show how strong this beast was along with some video and photo documentation from fellow chasers of our media group, KDR Media.

Base Reflectivity shows the well pronounced hook and inflow region gong strait into Mapleton around 710 PM Central time last evening.  This is as the tornado was getting organized on the SW side of town.

You can see the tornado coming strait through the town of Mapleton here with the 0.5 degree inbound/outbound velocities beginning to converge and max out as the tornado plows through town.  This tornado did significant damage all across this area.  This parent supercell thunderstorm apparently produced several large, destructive tornadoes over the course of a 4 hour period across Iowa.  So far, we haven’t heard of any confirmed fatalities.

The video below comes from fellow KDR Media stringers Skip Talbot and Mike Boik.

Also….some damage video from KDR Media Stringer Mike Brady.

We will continue to update this story as it unfolds.  Another high end severe weather event is expected across the northern plains and upper midwest later today.  Stay tuned…

Thunderstorms are increasing to the west this afternoon over missouri.  Isolated severe storms with hail around the springfield area however this will not affect alabama.  Some storms can be expected tomorrow evening and night but the storms are expected to remain below severe limits.