Twin States Weather Blog

SPC Day 2 Outlook

* Wow. I just read the new SPC Day 2 Outlook, which includes this statement:

WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND DANGEROUS
TORNADOES ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP EAST OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
ON SATURDAY...

I should note that that particular statement applies more to western MS/northern LA/AR/western TN, but the threat here is also significant.

* My thinking has not changed very much. Supercells are possible Saturday afternoon, but the primary activity will come between 6pm Saturday night and 6am Sunday morning. The main threat will be damaging winds, but any place along the squall line that becomes broken and more discrete could produce tornadoes.

* This is the time to make sure you and your family are ready. As someone commented on a previous blog entry earlier, it happens here. We have tornadoes, and people get hurt and sometimes lose their lives as a result of tornadoes. The best way to be prepared is to have a NOAA Weather Radio in your home, and have a severe weather plan. Discuss ahead of time where your family will go in the event of a tornado warning. When discussing this, plan on going to the lowest floor of your home, as close to the center of the home as possible. Think basement, or interior bathroom, hallway or closet.

If you live in a mobile home, it would not be a bad idea to arrange to spend Saturday night at a friend or relative's house, if feasible. There is nothing wrong with mobile homes on fair weather days, but in situations like Saturday night, even strong thunderstorm winds can destroy or topple a mobile home; it doesn't have to be a tornado.

* None of this is written to frighten anyone, I simply want everyone to be prepared for not only anything that may happen Saturday night, but also the rest of severe weather season. The odds of being struck by a tornado are very low, but my point is that a little preparation can go a long way if you do happen to end up in the path of dangerous weather!

Labels: Forecast Discussion

posted by WTOK Weather Staff @ 12:29 AM