Severe Weather 2014

[Lightning]

It has been quiet thus far this year, for the most part. However, things are starting to get very active. I'd hate to be in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow. Major threat there, and it will be a very slow-moving system, so it will be a multi-day severe weather outbreak. Threat of tornadoes tomorrow through Wednesday. Dr. Forbes has some high numbers, as well. 7/10 tomorrow.

[Localonthe8s]

Yep, just like last year we had a very quiet start to tornado season and now through all of today and this week we could see some significant activity.

[toxictwister00]

Man, it's gonna be a loooooong three days. I'm more concerned about the flooding right now. We could see anywhere from 2-4+ inches of rain. 6 inches isn't out of the question.

FLOOD WATCH goes into effect here after midnight (Monday transitioning to Tuesday)

[toxictwister00]

Slight risk extended east to North/Central Georgia and the Western Carolinas today


Probability of Tornadoes


Probability of Damaging Winds


Probability of Hail

[Lightning]

Tupelo, Mississippi, Louisville, Mississippi, and Athens, Alabama have been hit by tornadoes today. There's been some loss of life, unfortunately. 

[toxictwister00]

Chattanooga is right in the cross hairs of a potential developing tornado from a supercell leaving Dade Co. GA heading NE into TN.

[toxictwister00]

New Day 1 Outlook - MODERATE RISK added for Southern MS, and most of North/Central AL/NW GA.

[toxictwister00]

Unless some weakening happens again, Birmingham, AL is in for a rough ride within the next 20 mins. Possible tornado signature showing up on the radar.

EDIT: Tornado Emergency has been issued out for Tuscaloosa, tornado confirmed on the ground.

[Lightning]

Tornado Warning for my location and I am scared. 

TORNADO WARNING
ALC073-125-290445-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0024.140429T0341Z-140429T0445Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1041 PM CDT MON APR 28 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1145 PM CDT

* AT 1037 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A
  CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR BROOKWOOD...OR 11 MILES EAST OF HOLT.
  DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BESSEMER...HUEYTOWN...FAIRFIELD...HOOVER...VESTAVIA HILLS...
  HOMEWOOD...BIRMINGHAM...MOUNTAIN BROOK...FULTONDALE AND ABERNANT.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 250 THROUGH 271...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 23...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 86 THROUGH 129...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBER 130...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

[phw115wvwx]

The preliminary death toll from the tornadoes during the past several days is up to 31.  You just knew with the very quiet start to this spring that things would turn around in a hurry, and they sure have now thanks to an "omega block" pattern with a deep upper level trough sitting over the Plains and wobbling slowly eastward while allowing Gulf moisture to interact with it.  If you have no idea what an "omega block" is, see this link:

http://www.goes-r.gov/users/comet/norlat/sat_features/blocking_patterns/omega_block.htm

Go look at the upper level data lately, and you will see this blocking pattern.

[Pop Light Brown]

Tornado Watch 116 in effect until 9 pm.

[WeatherWitness]

The southeast was certainly spared from a second tornado outbreak today.  Thank goodness.  Hopefully Wednesday and Thursday will prove to be similarly uneventful.

[toxictwister00]

The southeast was certainly spared from a second tornado outbreak today.  Thank goodness.  Hopefully Wednesday and Thursday will prove to be similarly uneventful.

Except NC, that's where all the action was today surprisingly.

[WeatherWitness]

The southeast was certainly spared from a second tornado outbreak today.  Thank goodness.  Hopefully Wednesday and Thursday will prove to be similarly uneventful.

Except NC, that's where all the action was today surprisingly.

Yes, but even there, the tornadoes seemed to be mostly brief and weaker tornadoes and were not the violent ones we saw on Monday.  I still can't believe how many tornadoes were reported on Monday!

[Lightning]

The closest damage to me Monday night was in nearby Bessemer. An apartment complex behind a hospital sustained heavy damage. We almost went to our basement until we saw that it was not headed our way afterall. Scary night.

I think the reason it wasn't nearly as bad Tuesday is because there was a lot of rain and thunderstorms along the gulf coast (which caused devastating floods) and that robbed this part of the state of moisture and instability. I hope this won't be the only event of this spring, but that the next one won't be quite like this one was.