2-Day Outlook

Depending on who you are, the next couple of days could be the best 2 days of your life, or the worst 2 days of your life. 

For Meteorologists, this storm is a blessing and a curse. That severe weather forecasting experience is going to come in very handy and the population's faith in meteorologists will be at a new high. For first-responders, this storm will be a nightmare. Flooding, large hail, high winds, and tornadoes possible and likely. As I am writing this, there are 6 tornadoes on the ground in Alabama. Below is a live feed of the national weather service radar.

To answer the burning question in some minds: Yes, I believe that this could be the storm similar to 3 years ago, though not as far north with the tornadoes. 

14 people have died in this storm so far in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Tornadoes are crushing towns and cities, removing all but the foundation of some houses and smashing cars through others. 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/28/307636103/tornadoes-rip-through-arkansas-oklahoma-killing-at-least-17

There are stories of rescue coming from multiple states right now as people are recovered from rubble. Fortunately, Meteorologists have done a fantastic job forecasting and describing the positions of these killer twisters and many lives have been spared despite the wide-spread damage.

The storm is going to be severe enough here in NC that Storm Chaser Reed Timmer is going to be bringing his crew to Eastern NC in the hopes of intercepting a tornado or two. When the professionals come this far east, it means there is plenty of potential for serious weather. 

What does this mean? 

1. Get a tornado action plan ready. Figure out where you need to go, somewhere without outside walls or windows preferably under some sort of sturdy support (under a staircase in the middle of a house).

2. Stay tuned to your local weather stations, and have candles and flashlights ready as well as a batyery operated radio in the event of a power outage or cable tv going out.

3. HEED WARNINGS! Meteorologists do not dish out warnings in vain. Each warning is given due to serious, possibly deadly conditions and need to be taken seriously.

I just moved the radar image above from the website so it should update automatically. That way my blog will stay as updated as possible for the safety of my followers. In the image you can see the fast-moving cold front shoving the warm air mass upward into the upper atmosphere. This intense convergence of cold and warm air is causing a the severity of the storm. Tornadoes are forming in the frontal zone just east of that cold front (which is currently along the Mississippi River). Dozens of tornadoes have been spawned in OK, MO, AR, AL, MS, TN, and LA so far. 

Northern Midwest:

Also seen in the image above is an Occluded Front extending from the northern surface low to the West. This frontal zone is also allowing for severe thunderstorms to form and tornadoes and hail are still possible even as far North as Southern Wisconsin and Michigan so even you guys in the Northern Midwest should keep in touch with your local weather stations so that you have the most accurate up-to-date information for your area. The main portion of severe weather will be in the Southeast though. 

MiScan5000: NC Tornado Outbreak, April 2014

MiScan5000: NC Tornado Outbreak, April 2014: Fortunately the 3-year anniversary of the worst tornado outbreak in the history of North Carolina did not cause as much damage and not nearl...

NC Tornado Outbreak, April 2014

Fortunately the 3-year anniversary of the worst tornado outbreak in the history of North Carolina did not cause as much damage and not nearly as much loss of life. April 2011 was devastating.

Yesterday though, there were two confirmed EF-2 tornadoes which touched down in Pitt and Beaufort Counties, and there was a confirmed report of an EF-0 in Garner. Over 8 counties were under a tornado warning yesterday issued by the National Weather Service, and that many more were under the influence of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Storm specialists are observing the damages from the tornado in Beaufort County because it may have been an EF-3. This is significant because if it was, it would be the first EF-3 tornado of the year....NATIONWIDE. Yeah, that typically isn't the case. This is actually the longest the nation has gone without an EF-3 tornado reports say. For a video of the damage in Beaufort County, follow the link directly below:

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Strong-Storms-Hit-North-Carolina--Reported-Tornado-Caught-On-Tape-256785191.html

http://www.wunderground.com/news/north-carolina-tornadoes-20140329

Today was far different. I hope all of you had a chance to go outside today because the weather was Glorious! The entire day I drove with the windows down and enjoyed the fresh air. Today my church had a baptism service at Lake Jordan so much time was spent outside (btw the baptism service was awesome!! We had 7 owners baptized!). Tomorrow is going to be almost identical to today, so there is still time to get outside!

Enjoy the time while you can though. Another wave of storms is going to be rolling through this week, and this one much larger (not necessarily stronger) than the front that moved through yesterday.

That area in the Midwest where severe thunderstorms are possible is moving out direction. There is a large warm air mass (hence the warm front moving north) pushing up from the Gulf of Mexico, and a very strong cold front moving east. As the cold air is coming down from the mountains, intense instability will occur causing violent movements of air allowing for rapidly rising and sinking motion. As the warm moist air rises, it will quickly cool and form billowing Cumulonimbus clouds which will turn into supercells. Fortunately, a good rain will likely quench the wild fires in this region as much of the southern Midwest is under a Red Flag Warning right now. 

Severe Weather Statement!

Supercell Thunderstorms are popping up and strengthening rapidly across NC and VA. Currently Davie County, Iredell County, Warren County, Franklin County, Halifax County, Nash County and Rowan County are under tornado warnings until 4:30 pm, and the rest of the state is under a tornado watch until 9:00 pm.

If you don't have one, make a plan of action in the event of a tornado. Beware of hail and stay tuned to your local news stations for weather updates! This is not a drill!

Weather Waits for No-One

My schedule has been crazier than crazy, but I'm back! The last wave of tests is over and today just happens to be the last day of classes here at NC State! And is it a wonderful day here in Raleigh or what?!

Today the high is expected to reach 68 but because of the clear skies we could see temperatures push up to 69 or 70 (temperatures won't get much higher than 68 due to windy conditions). A nice fat high pressure system has moved into the area allowing for the clear, sunny skies.

We can expect to see more clouds tomorrow and thunderstorms are possible on Friday as there is a strong temperature conversion out in front of an occluded front which is moving across the United States. Temperatures though are still expected to reach 70 tomorrow and mid 70's on Friday due to warm moist air being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico. Then the weekend should be beautiful! Saturday temperatures are expected to reach almost 80 and on both Saturday and Sunday we can expect mostly clear skies with just some fair-weather clouds forming throughout both days. If you are in the Triangle area this weekend, plan to be outside. If you're going to be studying for finals (as I will be), study outside! It's going to be wonderful outside!

Interesting Red Flag warning in just about all of New Mexico along with parts of Texas, Oklahoma, eastern Colorado, and western Kentucky for the Midwest, but also now for Northern Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania as these dry and windy conditions are allowing for wildfires to spread and spreading potential to rise. Stay tuned to your local stations for updates concerning locations of and potential for wildfires.

On this day in weather history....well, a lot of things happened. The most notable event was a severe thunderstorm in Anderson, SC pelted the area with golf-ball-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 67 mph. Reports from the airport told of 2 planes which were destroyed by the wind, 50 more were damaged from hail, and twenty-three greenhouses were severely damaged.

Severe Thunderstorm Potential

Sorry about the delay. I was going to post last night but I wound up falling asleep. Fortunately, Central NC will most likely dodge a bullet this afternoon and evening. A warm front is being pushed northward by a slow-moving eastward-bound cold front. As a result of the temperature gradient being caused  there is a high possibility for windy conditions later in the afternoon. The coast on the other hand (Wilmington and Carolina Beach, SC coast, and GA coast) are under a tornado watch for the next few hours. Stay tuned into your local weather stations for further updated information.

A week ago Saturday (March 30th) Central NC experienced the first, and likely not the last, tornado of the year. An EF-0 tornado moved through Johnson and Wake counties, causing damage to roofs and signs as well as felling trees. Thankfully no one was injured. This tornado was a reminder of the April 2011 tornadoes which moved through Central NC causing devastation with damages amounting to over $300 million, 304 injured, and 24 killed. I pray we don't have another outbreak like this for a while.

Just in - there is a tornado warning in SE Georgia and a severe thunderstorm warning for the surrounding area. More specifically: Coffee county reported the tornado warning and Atkinson and Jeff Davis Counties are under a sever thunderstorm warning. If you are in this area or east of this area, or know someone who meets this criteria, please take cover or warn your friends or loved ones to do so!