Kemper, Lauderdale Severe Warning
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
651 AM CST FRI JAN 13 2006
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN KEMPER COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
NORTHERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MERIDIAN STATION
* UNTIL 730 AM CST
* AT 651 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR COLLINSVILLE...OR ABOUT 13
MILES NORTHWEST OF MERIDIAN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
MERIDIAN STATION BY 705 AM CST
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
Newton County Tornado Warning
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NEWTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NEWTON
* UNTIL 700 AM CST
* AT 634 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR NEWTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LITTLE ROCK BY 645 AM CST
IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.
SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR
HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER
YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
Tornado Watch
* The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for all of our Mississippi counties. The watch is valid until 10:00 AM, and includes the following counties:
Clarke
Jasper
Kemper
Lauderdale
Leake
Neshoba
Newton
Noxubee
Scott
Smith
Winston
* Here's the watch:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0016.html* The dewpoint in Meridian at the 2 AM observation is 54, which is not extremely favorable for tornadic development. However, we'll all need to keep an eye peeled through the remainder of the early morning. While instability values are marginal, the shear and dynamics of this system are quite impressive...This could be enough to overcome the relatively stable airmass. Regardless of tornadoes, we do expect a rather mean squall line to race through later this morning. Large hail is the main threat, as very cold air aloft moves overhead. We also could see a few reports of damaging winds. Bottom line...this is a good day to stay close to a good source of weather information.
* Charles Daniel will be in the weather office later this morning and will keep you updated with the latest on Good Morning Meridian. He will also break into programming in the event of a weather emergency. Renny will be joining him later in the day.
* Have a great morning, and keep an eye on WTOK and an ear towards your NOAA Weather Radio through the rest of the morning!
A Year in the Books...
* Today marks the one year anniversary of my first day here at WTOK. The title of this post is "A Year in the Books", but it could just as easily have been "A Year FOR the Books". 2005 offered many significant weather events. We started quickly, with numerous severe weather episodes during Spring. The most significant was the April 6 event, which included an F3 tornado destroying a school in Mize. Damage was extensive across central Mississippi. Here's a link to NWS Jackson's summary of that event:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/events/April062005/index.htmlWe also had glancing blows from several tropical systems. Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricane Dennis both affected us in some capacity.
But, the event that will forever be remembered was Hurricane Katrina. Katrina struck in late August, bringing widespread devastation along the coastlines of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The swath of damage extended well into central Mississippi and western Alabama. A mind-boggling 100% of our area was without power for at least some time - some people in rural areas were without power for weeks.
Following that, we dealt with Hurricane Rita. Rita brought a significant outbreak of tornadoes to our area, including damage in Marion and northern Lauderdale County. The La-Z-Boy plant in Newton had signficant damage from one of these tornadoes.
* Thank you for watching over the past year, and I look foward to serving the needs of this community over the next year. I'm hopeful that 2006 will not offer as many weather disasters as 2005 - but, we have to be prepared. Now is a good time to check the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio. And, if you don't own a NOAA Weather Radio - buy one. Add it as a late New Year's Resolution - you resolve to keep you and your family well-informed about severe weather!
Weather Rollercoaster
* We are only 8 days in to 2006 but it seems like we've seen just about every type of weather we can this year. We hit two record highs (80 and 79, respectively) in the first four days, we reached a morning low of 22 on Saturday, it snowed on Friday, and once again we are back to 73 as of 2:00 pm on Sunday which ties a record high.
* The rollercoaster ride can be attributed to a highly amplified weather pattern the past week. Large troughs and ridges have built, and without any blocking ridges in the north Atlantic, these waves can move through quickly giving us the large swings in temperature.
* The models are hinting at a more zonal flow which will allow us to stay a little more steady with temperatures. Also, moisture will return in advance of our next system and finally give us a good chance of rain by Monday night and Tuesday. Remember that a Red Flag warning is in effect for today, meaning a high fire danger is present. Please do not burn!
