Twin States Weather Blog

Looks like my first day on-air will be an active one!

The Storm Prediction Center has indicated that there exists a slight risk of severe weather for the entire WTOK viewing area. A slow moving cool front will begin to affect the area this afternoon and evening. Right now, it looks like a line of showers and t'storms will begin to move into western portions of our area around mid-late afternoon. The main threat with any storms today will be damaging winds followed by a threat of isolated tornadoes. Hail doesn't appear to be too big of a concern today, as freezing levels in the atmosphere are relatively high.

Everyone runs the risk of seeing a strong storm today, but the areas along and west of US 45 have the greatest threat. I think that we'll see a squall line move towards our area, but gradually weaken once it gets close. However, one thing that is for sure, is that we are going to get some much needed rain! Currently, we are in one of the driest (if not the driest) Marchs on record. Rainfall in Meridian is about six inches below normal for the month! Most places should receive about an inch of rain this evening and tonight, with some areas seeing upwards of two inches! The ground will be very thankful.

Now...a bit about myself. Today I am scheduled to start on-air at WTOK. I'll be doing the weather for the weekend newscasts (with some fill-in during the week) as Ashley McDonald has accepted a position in Montgomery, AL. I am a graduating senior at MS State University, and come to the South from Indiana. I am looking forward to learning about, and experiencing, the East Missisippi/West Alabama area. Feel free to contact me at rob.hart@wtok.com with any comments/concerns (both good and bad), or if you simply want to say "hi".

I will be contributing to the blog from time to time. But, for right now, I'll be heading to the station shortly to reanalyze the storm situation. Updates will be posted on here throughout the afternoon, as needed. Chris will join me in the studio if the storms become threatening. Stay tuned to WTOK and the blog for further updates. I'll have a complete update tonight at 6.