Weekend Forecast!
The forecast this weekend looks good for all of your outdoor activities. First, of course tonight is Relay For Life out at Ray Stadium, and I don't think we could ask for better weather. It may be a little cool with lows dipping into the upper 40s; otherwise, look for some clouds to be moving in by early Saturday morning. If clouds are a bit thicker than expected, then morning lows may not be quiet as cool; however, we won't split hairs over that.
Saturday is shaping up fairly nice as well. An upper level disturbance will be passing to the north of us so the best rain chance will be across North Mississippi and the Mid-Mississippi River Valley, but I can't rule out a sprinkle or two and even a light shower as far south as the Interstate 20 Corridor. By the afternoon, clouds will be on the decrease and sunshine returns. Look for highs in the upper 70s to near 80.
Sunday will be the best day of all with full sunshine and highs in the lower 80s. Expect temperatures to be in the upper 40s to near 50 when you wake early Sunday morning. Hopefully by the end of next week we will see at least some isolated showers and thunderstorms to help cut in to these rainfall defecits.
I am heading back to Louisiana this weekend to continue my weekend weather position in Alexandria, but make sure to catch Rob Hart this weekend and Chris Whited all day Monday. I will be joining you again on Tuesday Evening. I really enjoy being back in Meridian, but I will enjoy it even more when I get through working in Louisiana which is the end of May. Have a wonderful weekend.
God Bless
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Heading For The Weekend:
* Clear skies this morning as I was driving to work and noticed the moon is looking nice in the western sky. Its starting to fill in so we got a full moon around the corner. A bit cool this morning as I write this... we sit in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Highs will head into the upper 70s today.
* The GFS and NAM forecast models are still having a difference of opinion on this shower chance for tomorrow morning. The weak shortwave according to the NAM will affect areas north of US 80 and the GFS keeps the showers north of Columbus. I am going to throw in a shower in my forecast package but not too confident. Models bring the next chance for rain into the area at the end of the forecast period around Friday of next week. As we get more into May models show rain chances on the 5th and 6th of the month. Overall pattern looks to remain at or slighty above normal on temperatures.
* Meridian & Clarke Co. Relay For Life: Weather looks great for the event in Meridian tonight and tomorrow for Clarke Co. I will say there is a slight chance of a shower during the morning hours but I still think the rain will stay to our north. The NAM keeps the shower chance north of US 80 in the Twin States while the GFS keeps the activity way into Northeast Mississippi and Northwest Alabama. Don't forget to wear purple today in support for Relay for Life!
* Just finished putting together the river and lake level graphic for the morning news. The rains from Wednesday night and Thursday are getting into the waterways as most are up. Just a reminder I show the graphic going into the breaks each morning around 5:37 and at 6:37 during Good Morning Meridian. Trent plans on showing it as well on the evening newscasts if he is not already.
* Have a good weekend everyone... see you later this morning on GMM: Early Edition at 5:30 and GMM from 6:00 to 7:00!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Drought News!
Most of East Mississippi and West Alabama remain in a severe drought, and there are parts of North Alabama currently in an extreme drought. The map above which was released by the Climate Prediction Center on April 19th, indicates that we should see some improvement from the drought conditions across Mississippi and Alabama from now through July. The green shaded areas which includes the Twin States means that we should at least see improvement by one category. However, that would still leave us in a moderate drought. The rain we received Wednesday night into Thursday morning did help a little, but we still need more. Out of that rain event, Key Field received 2.11" of rain and NAS Meridian had 1.29" of rain. So here's how we are looking in Meridian. For the month of April, we have received 3.28" of rain which leaves us 1.66" behind the normal. For the year, 9.56" of rain has fallen so we are 13.58" short of the average.
Looking down the road, rain chances are fairly bleak. There is a 20% chance of showers on Saturday, but most of that activity should be confined to North Mississippi. By next Thursday, another slight 20% chance of rain is in the forecast, but the 18Z run of the GFS is painting a little more rain coverage than that for next Thursday so we'll see.
The forecast for Relay for Life Friday night at Ray Stadium is looking great. I'm expecting mostly clear skies, but clouds will be increasing by early Saturday morning. Lows will be dipping down into the upper 40s so you may need a light jacket if you get cold easily.
God Bless
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Final Rain Totals & Drying Out:
* Everyone got a good soaking with last night and the morning rain and thunderstorms across the Twin States. Doppler radar estimates show anywhere from 1.00" to 3.00" in spots since Wednesday evening.
* Official Totals as of 6:00 AM show Meridian's Key Field picked up a storm total of 2.11" and NAS Meridian's McCain Field picked up 1.29."
* The front is moving toward Eastern Mississippi and is allowing clouds to decrease across areas to the west. This will work into the area later this morning.
* Have yourself a good Thursday... Trent will have more on your forecast later tonight on Newscenter 11 at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Rain Total Update:
* At 4:00 AM here is the latest rain reports from the NWS ASOS sites here in East Mississippi:
(Totals since Wednesday evening)
Key Field - Meridian 2.04"
McCain Field - NAS Meridian 1.24"
Labels: Forecast Discussion
3:30 AM Update:
* Mass of rain and some embedded thunderstorms continue to move across Eastern and Southeastern Mississippi and across Western and Southwestern Alabama. I am loving this heavy rain... just as I am sure many of us do! Its good sleeping weather except for us meteorologist who have the AM shift...lol!
* As of 3:00 AM..... Key Field sits at 1.84" storm total on rainfall since Wednesday evening. NAS Meridian's McCain Field sits at 1.05" since Wednesday evening. This is exactly what we needed and thankfully the skies have opened up. We still need a lot more to help the drought and we go back into a dry pattern once this rain event ends.
* Be careful on the roads this morning as there is ponding water on the roads and streets. Here in Meridian there is quite a bit of ponded water on streets downtown... at least there was when I came in a little after 1:00 this morning.
* Tornado Watch still in effect for Wayne, Choctaw and Clarke, Ala. until 8:00 AM. There have been no warnings at all except down around New Orleans. I expect the watch to be cancelled here in a while for those counties.
* About to start looking over the model data and get my forecast package together for the morning shift... will have more on the forecast a bit later!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Let The Rain Fall:
* Rain continues to fall here across East Mississippi and its more than welcomed!
* 2:00 AM Update on rainfall at the ASOS weather sites in our area:
Key Field: 1.62"
McCain Field (NAS Meridian): 0.91"
* Be careful if you are out and about this morning on the roadways. There is a lot of water on the streets here in Meridian... as I noticed driving up to WTOK. Also be careful of the usual spots that flood as it has been so dry those dry stream beds will pick up water quickly.
* More updates as needed... enjoy the rain!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Radar & Rain Total Update:
* Band of rain continues to move across Eastern Mississippi and Western Alabama this early morning. Stronger storms are across the Pine Belt.
* Tornado Watch until 8:00 AM for Wayne Co. in Mississippi and Choctaw and Clarke in West Alabama.
* Nice rains.... we are now up to 1.48" at Meridian Airport (Key Field) and 0.70" at NAS Meridian (McClain Field)
* Trent and I are monitoring the weather situation...
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Tornado Watch Issued Until 8:00 AM:
* The SPC has just issued a Tornado Watch for most of Southeast Mississippi and Southwest Alabama until 8:00 AM CDT. This is mostly for the Southeast parts of our viewing area.
* In the WTOK viewing area:
Mississippi: Wayne Co.
Alabama: Choctaw & Clarke Co.
* I'm heading up to the station here in a few minutes...
Labels: Severe Weather
Radar Update & General Thoughts:
(11:00 PM Radar - Click for larger view)
* I am usually in bed about this time since I get up at 2:30 AM but the weather radio alarm earlier and my afternoon nap have me wide awake so I thought I would blog a little.
* Good Soaking Rain: I just checked the ASOS site rain totals and not bad... Key Field as last check reported 1.14" for the day and up the road at McCain Field at NAS Meridian 0.57". We need it and we still have a chance for some more later this morning as the front is moving through Louisiana and will get here later in the morning. We could see some more storms develop along and ahead of the front... but severe weather is limited as this mass of rain and storms tonight has stabilized the atmosphere.
* Going to try to knock a nap out here before my morning shift starts. I'll have my normal forecast discussion blog later into the morning and I'll see you all on Good Morning Meridian form 5:30 - 7:00!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Rain And A Few Strong Storms Continue!
We have seen strong storms move through the Meridian and Lauderdale County areas over the past hour or so. These storms produced brief heavy rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds as they moved through downtown Meridian. Those storms are now moving towards Lauderdale, De Kalb, Scooba, Porterville, and Electric Mills. Another cluster of thunderstorms is moving from Jasper County into southeastern Newton County and southwestern Lauderdale County. Right now we have no watches or warnings in effect, but stay tuned to Newscenter 11 for the latest weather information. We are also watching another line of thunderstorms back across northwestern Louisiana extending down into eastern parts of Texas. This may affect us later tonight into early Thursday.
Labels: Severe Weather
Radar Update/ Strong Storms in Eastern Mississippi:
* Strong thunderstorms will continue to affect East Mississippi and West Alabama over the next few hours. Strong storms are arriving in Meridian as I speak. The band is running roughly from Philadelphia to Collinsville to Meridian to Enterprise
Labels: Severe Weather
Tornado Watch Cancelled/ Storm Reports:
* NWS in Jackson has cancelled the Tornado Watch that was in effect until 9:00 PM for Leake and Scott Co.
* Having said that an outflow boundary has moved ahead of the main storm activity and out of the watch area and has diminished the severe weather threat in Western and Central Mississippi. Now the outflow is helping storms fire over Eastern Mississippi and Western Alabama. A watch could be issued for our area later this evening.
* Quick storm report from NWS...
8 NNW Philadelphia [Neshoba Co, MS] emergency mngr reports TSTM WND DMG at 06:44 PM CDT -- a tree down along highway 395
*Hearing thunder here at my house in Northeast Meridian...
* This is the first round of storms. Another line of storms is forming well off to the west over the Ark-La-Tex along the front. This activity will affect us later tonight and toward dawn.
* Trent is covering Newscenter 11 updates on television, I'm on the blog and IM with the NWS and Rob is on the blog and IM from Starkville. Stay with us for updates
Labels: Severe Weather
Local Storm Reports:
* NWS is reporting via our instant messenger conference a report of nickel size hail 2 miles southwest of the Pearl River Resort in Neshoba Co. There is also a report of a tree down.
(6:49 PM - NWS JAN)
Labels: Storm Reports
6:45 Radar Update:
(Click For Larger View)
Labels: Severe Weather
Severe T-Storm Warning : Leake & Neshoba Co.
* The NWS in Jackson has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Leake and Neshoba County until 6:45 PM.
Warning text:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KJAN/0704252322.wuus54.htmlThe storm will affect the casino area of the Pearl River Resort, Choctaw, and the community of Pearl River on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation area along MS Hwy 16 in Leake and Neshoba County. The storm will also affect the northern part of the county around Stallo. Bases on movement, the storm should move north of Philadelphia. Radar is also indicating some weak rotation with this storm.
Labels: Severe Weather
Tornado Watch Issued For Our Western Counties:
* The SPC has just issued a Tornado Watch for Western and Central Mississippi until 9:00 CDT tonight. In WTOK's viewing area the watch includes Leake and Scott County.
* Trent will be into the station here in a few minutes. I am at home and will monitor things from here this evening, but I will join Trent later when things start affecting our area. Continued updates here on the WTOK Weather Blog and on Newscenter 11 on television
Labels: Severe Weather
Quick Notes:
* This morning's Hazardous Weather Outlook from the Jackson NWS:
DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...
...THUNDERSTORMS...
A POTENT UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE IS SET TO IMPACT THE ARKLAMISS REGION TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT WHICH WILL BRING THE RISK OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILLBE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG ANDWEST OF A MOREHOUSE LOUISIANA TO GREENWOOD MISSISSIPPI LINE. FURTHER SOUTHEAST...SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEPOSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING OVER THE REST OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI NORTHWEST OF A COLUMBUS TO PRENTISS LINE. FINALLY...LOCATIONS IN EASTERN MISSISSIPPI ALONG AND EAST OF A COLUMBUS TO COLUMBIA LINE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO EXPERIENCE ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING.
THE PRIMARY RISK WITH THE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...ALTHOUGH ISOLATED TORNADOES AND HAIL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.
RESIDENTS WEST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE CORRIDOR ARE URGED TO KEEP UPWITH WEATHER UPDATES THIS MORNING AS AN EVOLVING THUNDERSTORM CLUSTER HEADED TOWARD THE REGION COULD RESULT IN A RAPID DECLINE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. RISKS OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE REST OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSISSIPPI WILL BE HIGHEST BETWEEN THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.
...FLOODING...
HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE ARKLAMISS ALONG AND WEST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE CORRIDOR THROUGH THIS EVENING AS A POTENT UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AFFECTS THE REGION. EXPECT RAINFALL IN THESE AREAS TO RANGE FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES WITH ISOLATED LOCATIONS RECEIVING 3 INCHES. THESE AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD NOT CAUSE FLOODING PROBLEMS...BUT MAY RESULT IN MINOR PONDING OF WATER ISSUES.
IN ADDITION...THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL IS ABIT HIGHER OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...NORTHEASTLOUISIANA AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS WEST OF A NATCHEZ...TO VICKSBURG...TO GREENWOOD LINE. HERE...THE TRAINING OF THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE TODAY THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING WHICH COULD BRING ISOLATED RAINFALL TOTALS UP TO 4 INCHES. THIS WILL BRING A SLIGHT RISK OF FLASH FLOODING PROBLEMS IN THE MOSTAFFECTED LOCATIONS.
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Strong Storms Tonight:
* Good morning... a very early good morning. My clock has 3:10 here at the station so its safe to say I am well up before the chickens! Fun aside lets talk about tonight's storm threat.
* New SPC Day 1 outlook shows no change from my posting last night. Its still has all of our area under a slight risk for severe weather. As you've noticed I have added the probability outlooks and it appears wind damage (30%) and hail (15%) are the main threats for our area. However an isolated tornado is not out of the question.
* Timing: The 0Z (last night's run) brings the line of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms into our western viewing area around 6Z (1:00 AM Thursday CDT) and to the US 45 and AL Hwy. 17 corridor around 12Z (7:00 AM). Models still show some activity, mostly in our West Alabama counties around 18Z (1:00PM),
* Rainfall: I will admit I am bad about just looking at the GFS models only and not the others at times. Based on the GFS, rain estimates vary from as low as 0.25" to 0.75" and the model is still hinting the heavier rain off to our west and north for the most part. We could see higher totals with the stronger storms. Trent noted in an email this morning to me that he looked at the NAM model which paints rain totals from 0.50" to 1.00" for East Mississippi and West Alabama. I like his numbers better because it means more main and that is something we do need.
* Heading toward the weekend... the GFS is painting a slight chance of rain for Saturday mostly to the north of our area but there may be enought to squeeze out a shower north of US 80. I haven't put my forecast package together yet... as I am looking at the models and sharing my thoughts those of you reading this. Yesterday the model had the rain over most of Mississippi and I opted to leave it out. With the model taking it more northward I may do the same today.
* The month looks to end on a dry and warm note with a high centering right over the Twin States. Models suggest we return to a somewhat wet pattern around May 3-9th with rain chances each day. Of course I will admit again that far out on these long range models is "voodoo land." Yesterday the models showed no rain chances until May 7th... just to make a comparison.
* More on the forecast from 5:30 - 7:00 AM on Good Morning Meridian. I'm heading to Newton County later this morning to speak to some youngsters in Decatur about weather. Trent will be back in tonight at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 with the newest weather information on the storm threat.
* Have yourself a great Wednesday...
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Strong to Severe Storms Possible Tomorrow Night & Thursday:
SPC Day 2 Outlook
SPC Day 3 Outlook
* Latest run of the GFS (I am looking at the 12Z run) brings a complex of thunderstorms into Mississippi around midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning and spreads across the state and into Western Alabama around sunrise. Models bring the prime storm activity into Eastern Mississippi and Western Alabama around that time.
* The GFS brings a decent amount of rain into Mississippi as the complex more in but shifts the heavier rain totals from Southwest into Central and Northeast Mississippi. It suggests rain totals from as low as 0.25" to 1.00" for our area (being the higher totals the further north you go)
* Jackson NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook:
...THUNDERSTORMS...
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
ACROSS WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA BY
LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...GENERALLY WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE TO JUST EAST OF THE RIVER.
THE STORMS WILL RESULT FROM A POTENT UPPER LEVEL
SYSTEM AND SURFACE LOW IMPACTING THE REGION. THIS
SYSTEM WILL HAVE PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND ADEQUATE
LEVELS OF WIND SHEAR ALONG WITH ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO
SUPPORT THE RISK FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS.
THE PRIMARY RISK WITH THE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.
RESIDENTS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ARE URGE TO
KEEP UP WITH WEATHER UPDATES ON THIS STORM SYSTEM
FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
...DAYS TWO AND THREE...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY NIGHT...
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD ACROSS
THE REST OF THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS THE
STORM SYSTEM PUSHES TOWARD THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PLENTY
OF MOISTURE AND ADEQUATE LEVELS OF WIND SHEAR ALONG
WITH ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO SUPPORT THE RISK FOR
SEVERE STORMS.
LOCATIONS MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER WILL HAVE THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER
INITIALLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THE MORNING HOURS OF
THURSDAY.
RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LATER
FORECASTS CONCERNING THIS POTENT SPRING STORM SYSTEM.
* Trent will have the latest forecast tonight at 5, 6, and 10. I am back to my normal schedule tomorrow... see you at 5:30 AM!
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Severe Weather Possible on Wednesday
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the Newscenter 11 viewing area under a slight risk of severe weather for Wednesday. Particularly, Wednesday evening into the overnight hours.
Over the weekend it looked like this weather system was going to be weakening by the time it moved into the area. Now, it looks like the system may be a little stronger than initially thought. Main threats, at this time (and this could change...remember that we're talking about 40 hours out here) appear to be isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts.
Chris will have more on the potential of severe weather and additional details on when we'll finally see some of the much needed rain, later this morning on Good Morning Meridian: Early Edition at 5:30, and on Good Morning Meridian at 6:00.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html will take you to the
SPC's Day2 Outlook Page.
Severe Weather Across the Plains
It seems like the Texas Panhandle has had their fair share of severe weather this spring. On March 28th there were 15 confirmed tornadoes. On April 21st there were eight confirmed tornadoes, and this past Saturday (April 21) there were 11 tornadoes, and that number may go up. That's 34 tornadoes within a month! The same area was under a tornado watch earlier tonight, but fortunately no tornadoes were reported in the area. Tornadoes have been reported, however, elsewhere in Texas and Kansas.
Here's some information about the strongest tornado that developed this past Saturday:
On April 21, the town of Cactus, TX was hit by an EF-2 tornado (winds 110-137mph). This tornado was up to 3/4 of a mile wide at times!! Unfortunately there were 14 injuries reported. However, that toll could have been much higher, and thankfully there was plenty of warning given to the area. Several mobile homes were destroyed, but the people who lived in those homes received the warning before the tornado struck and took appropriate action by seeking shelter in a sturdier building. The tornado was on the ground for 25 miles and for 35 minutes!
This evening has been another active severe weather evening across the Great Plains. At this time there have been 18 reports of tornadoes (none in the Texas Panhandle), 16 reports of wind damage, and 62 reports of large hail. These numbers will likely increase throughout the night.
A supercell in the Abilene area has been ongoing for over four hours! Hopefully it isn't causing much in the way of damage.
Another supercell in western Kansas produced a tornado near Goodland. The National Weather Service Office in Goodland reported being able to see the tornado from their office! Imagine being able to look out the window at your place of work and being able to see a tornado!
The largest hail report received so far this evening has been in Sweetwater, TX where 2.75" hail was reported. The highest damaging wind gust was 64mph at Laughlin Air Force Base, also in Texas.
Watching For Rain Chances:
* A few isolated showers have popped up in spots across Eastern Mississippi this late afternoon. Plenty of low level moisture in place as the dewpoint has jumped up into the upper 50s and lower 60s across Mississippi. A weak upper low will track across the area late tonight and tomorrow and may keep a few showers in the forecast. The main rain chance looks to stay north of US 82 well into Northern Mississippi and into Northern Alabama. Having said that with daytime heating and the dewpoint running high a shower is not out of the question.
* Still watching the storm system to our west as it seems to bring the best rain chance to the area late Wednesday night and into Thursday. The models have started slowing this system down some. The 12Z GFS runs are looking a bit better on rain than my discussion this morning. I do not that the models hint at a "cap" in place over Eastern Mississippi and Western Alabama until about Wednesday night. The models still show the main instability to our west and north for the event...but we could see an isolated severe storm and once the cap breaks we have decent rain chances for our area. Models show from a half to one inch of rain possible for the area. The model still shows the heavier rain (about 72 hours out from the 12Z run) across Northeast Mississippi roughly along and north of MS Hwy. 16. I'm waiting for the new in between model runs to come in later tonight to see if there has been any change.
* Don't forget the SKYWARN Class is tonight at 7:00 at the Lauderdale Co. EMA office. Their office is across the road from the Meridian Fire Department Central Station on 14th Street.
* New website: WTOK launched the new website this morning. There is still a link to the weather blog on the Weather page.... its under the radar image and under the small Newscenter 11 Weather banner. We're working on a new weather blog that will soon be up and hosted on another server down the road.
* Have a good evening. Trent is in tomorrow night and I am back at 5:30 AM on Good Morning Meridian: Early Edition and at 6:00 AM on Good Morning Meridian.
Labels: Forecast Discussion
WTOK.com Changes:
* Our parent company launched our new look to our website this morning. Some of you are asking about the weather blog link. If you go to the weather page and look under the large radar image under the Newscenter 11 Weather Banner there is still a link to the weather blog.
Otherwise bookmark this link:
http://newscenter11weather.blogspot.com
* Note: We are working on a new weather blog that will be hosted directly through our website and not blogger so in a few weeks the weather blog might change all together.
Labels: Blog Note
Rain Chances This Week:
* In a bit early now since we start Good Morning Meridian: Early Edition this morning at 5:30 AM. Haven't really put my forecast package together yet... just skimming over the model data (mostly last night's run of the GFS models). Looks to be a dry day here in the Twin States on this Monday at least during the day.
* Rain Chances: The GFS is hinting at a chance of showers tonight across the area. Models take a weak shortwave over Northern Mississippi and Northern Alabama tomorrow which may be close enought to squeeze out a slight chance of some rain (mostly north of US 80 and to be honest probably well north of MS 16) The GFS run keeps scattered showers north of I-20 later in the day and overnight.
* The best rain chance comes late Wednesday night and into Thursday as the high weakens its hold over the Twin States in the Atlantic. Big storm taking shape over the South Plains will make its way toward Mississippi and Alabama. The data (about 78 hours out) shows a decent round of thunderstorms moving into the area. I will say looking at some of the other models, looks like we may deal with some strong to severe storms. The model tends to hint at over 1.00" of rain which is not a bad thing as we are in need of the rain.
* Past the storm system this week it looks like we transition back into our continued warm and dry pattern. The only next decent rain chance showing on the long range models come into early May... which I will say is way out in "voodoo land."
* Don't forget the SKYWARN class at LEMA tonight here in Meridian at 7:00 PM. Scan down the blog for more on the class.
* See you a bit earlier at 5:30 AM and have a great week...
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Greetings From Central Louisiana:
This is my first blog here at WTOK, and I just wanted to take a minute to tell you a little about me. I was born and raised in Meridian, and graduated from Clarkdale High School in 2000. My parents are Mike and Glenda Hughes, and I have one brother Todd Hughes who currently attends Clarkdale. I went to Meridian Community College for two years and received my Associate's Degree, and then I transferred to Mississippi State University in the Fall of 2002. I received my B.S. Degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Broadcast Meteorology and also a Minor in Communications in 2005. While at Mississippi State, I met my wife Jessica Hughes. We have been married for almost a year, and we currently do not have any children but we do have a dog and two cats so obviously I love animals. I have spent the last two years as the Weekend Meteorologist in Alexandria, LA; furthermore, I will continue doing weekend weather in Alexandria through the end of May while also working Tuesday-Friday in Meridian. I am very excited to get the chance to move back home, and I look forward to providing East Mississippi and West Alabama with accurate weather information. I would also like to say a big thank-you to Chris Whited (Morning Meteorologist) for the help and training he has provided me during this transition period. The weather graphics system I use at KALB in Alexandria is totally different than the weather equipment WTOK has, but Chris is doing a great job teaching me how to use it. Please make sure to scroll down the page the see the information Chris posted about the SKYWARN Spotter Class. A little weather blurb... The area remains very dry, but rainfall is in the forecast late Wednesday into Thursday. Check out Rob Hart's forecast on Newscenter 11 at Ten tonight, and then catch Chris bright and early tomorrow morning at 5:30 on Good Morning Meridian. God Bless!
Monday Notes:
* Just a quick reminder that the National Weather Service in Jackson will be in Meridian tomorrow night for a SKYWARN class at the LEMA office. (LEMA's office is across the street from the Meridian Fire Department's Central Station on the hill) See the graphic above for more information...
* Good Morning Meridian: Early Edition kicks off tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM... so you'll see Andrea and I on a bit earlier in the mornings. Our new half hour will have more news while the normal 6:00 - 7:00 hour will be the same Good Morning Meridian format you wake up to every morning.
* Have a good week. See you bright and early tomorrow morning at 5:30!
