I wanted to let you all know that we could be in for quite the evening sky treat! If you look west at about 8:30 you can see the inner planets of the solar system. Those planets consist of Mercury, Venus, and Mars. I’ve included an image for a guide. Again, look west at about 8:30. If nothing else, you’ll get to see a slither of the Moon and it is sure to be beautiful. Crescent Moons are my favorite! You can give use this guide in the coming nights too, but tonight’s sky is looking clearer than the nights to come.
I have placed my thermometer out in the field and things are cooling off quickly. I would cover up anything that you think could be bit by frost. My thermometer out in the open field is already down to 44 degrees. The thermometer under the trees is 54 degrees.
The dewpoint is 28 degrees, which means we could easily drop into the mid 30s in places. The only thing that may save us from frost are some passing clouds. My skies are crystal clear right now but I can see some clouds to the south. I’ve noticed some patchy clouds on satellite coming into West TN. Those could drift across our skies just in time to keep us frost free. To have frost, we must have crystal clear skies and calm winds.
The first MM class for the adults is filling fast but I still have some spots open! That class will be May 24th at 5:00 pm at TCAT. The cost is $10 for each adult (donations welcome) and every dime of that goes to fund materials for the kids classes offered each month. For more information and to register, please go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerEXmW6Ofxyw6NWwHhDPg4QmcEqd85jLKj5JpB5dG7VXUUiA/viewform
You all stay warm and enjoy the view of that night sky!
The NWS in Jackson, Kentucky has issued a frost advisory for tonight for all the counties of eastern Kentucky. The map below shows how close those advisories are. Additional frost advisories are in effect for the mountains of North Carolina. I think many of us on the plateau will not see frost, but if you live up around Jamestown and points north, you might want to take some frost precautions with tender vegetation. I’m going to put my thermometer back out into the open field again tonight to see just how cold it gets.
For the rest of us, expect a very chilly night. Overnight lows will likely fall into the 38-42 degree range. That could mean some isolated patches of frost for those of you in typically colder locations. Hopefully, this will be our last threat of frost this season. Hopefully.
The first MM class for the adults is now being offered! Class is filling fast! That class will be May 24th at 5:00 pm at TCAT. The cost is $10 for each adult (donations welcome) and every dime of that goes to fund materials for the kids classes offered each month. For more information and to register, please go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerEXmW6Ofxyw6NWwHhDPg4QmcEqd85jLKj5JpB5dG7VXUUiA/viewform
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Vlog
Seven-Day Forecast
Daily Forecast Summary/Discussion
Below-normal temps will be with us a few more days, but thankfully it’s looking like we’ll be dry. I can’t rule out a stray sprinkle or shower (thus, the 10% rain chances) but a great many of us will stay dry and cool.
I had wondered if we’ll see some scattered frost tonight, but I think we might stay warm enough to dodge that. Never the less, if you live in a traditionally colder spot, you might be aware that frost isn’t completely impossible.
Unsettled weather returns next week but temps will be much, much warmer. That, of course, means we’ll be keeping an eye on severe storm chances. Right now, those chances look best out on the plains. I’ll keep an eye on it and make sure it stays out there!
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Concerns
Almanac for Yesterday
Sun & The Moon
On This Day in Wx History
1934 – A dust storm darkened skies from Oklahoma to the Atlantic coast.
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 104° at Rio Grande Village, Texas
Low: 10° at Vernal, Utah
Today’s Tennessee Weather
It’s another day of sun and clouds for our beautiful state. The best chance for sun will be found in areas closest to the Kentucky border. Some of those clouds may drop a few showers across the southern half of the state, as well as the easternmost parts of the state. Temperatures will once again be about ten degrees below average, hanging out in the low to mid 60s for much of the state.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Tonight’s Tennessee Weather
It’s a chilly night for the Volunteer state, with lows in the 40s statewide. Skies should be generally clear for the western two-thirds of the state, with clouds and even a few showers hanging on in the east.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Tomorrow’s Tennessee Weather
A warmer day is on tap for Thursday, with highs in the mid to upper 60s for much of the state. A weak system may clip the northeast parts of the state, bringing a chance for a shower or thundershower.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Wednesday’s Weather 101 w/ Meteorologist Mark
Supercells are storms that exhibit rotating updrafts and they contain very tall thunderclouds for those updrafts to exist within. As the winds aloft that steer the storm encounter these dense clouds, the clouds act as walls. The winds can go around them or down them. It’s the wind that comes down the back side of the storm that becomes a “rear flank downdraft.”
In the image below, the rear flank downdraft is at the rear of the storm. The circulation around the mesocyclone (the hook echo) draws in that air after it has reached the surface. This air is cool, since it descended from above, so it acts as a baby cold front, coming around the base of the supercell. The winds with this downdraft can be damaging. Also, in the image below you’ll see a blue blob on radar ahead of the “cold front” with the rear flank downdraft. That is likely dust being picked up by the strong winds.
This is a dramatic visual of that descending air. Notice that lighter sky color on the far left of the picture? That’s the downdraft coming down the back side of the storm. Air that descends dries out. Sometimes, the sun comes out in the clearing skies immediately behind the supercell. I’ve even seen pictures of the sun shining on the tornado.
In recent years, research has suggested that the rear flank downdraft has a lot to do with the development of a tornado. If that downdraft is especially cold, the baby cold front associated with it (aka gust front) will quickly pinch of the warm air blowing into the supercell and the tornado will be short-lived or not exist at all. If the downdraft is relatively warmer air, the baby cold front will be slower to move forward and the inflow into the tornado will continue, leading to a tornado developing or the tornado staying on the ground for a longer period of time.
Drought Monitor
The drought monitor is updated each Thursday.
Weather SnapShots (NEW!)
Some of you saw some rainbows on the plateau yesterday. Madelon Martin shared this photo from northwest Montana. How cool is that scene?
NASA Nerdology
May 1964, pilot Jacqueline Cochran flew the Air Force Lockheed F-104G Starfighter to a speed over Mach 2 and set three new speed records, becoming the first woman to exceed twice the speed of sound. Can’t help but wonder how fast she drove a car? (Ha!). Seriously, this is quite the accomplishment and a very brave woman to do it!
Temperatures may be cool but the real-estate market is HOT! Ready to sell? Give me a call/text and we’ll make it happen! Call Meteorologist Mark at 931-248-1476or email me at meteorologistmark@gmail.com.
It’s looking the best chance for rain this week may come tonight. That rain chance is small, but many of us will see a bit of rain fall from our skies. It will be a chilly rain!
The rest of the week features more clouds but warming temps. By the weekend, we’ll be flirting with 80 degrees. Normal highs this time of year are in the low to mid 70s for our region. We’ve been far from that here lately! Many of us are ready for the warmer weather.
There are still no weather concerns in sight. Monday will hold a chance for storms but right now they’re not looking too bad. I’ll keep an eye on that.
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Concerns
Almanac for Yesterday
Sun & The Moon
On This Day in Wx History
2003- A pre-dawn severe weather outbreak produces six tornadoes across the Nashville metropolitan area between 2am and 4am CDT. One F-3 tornado tracks 20 miles across Williamson County, ending just northeast of downtown Franklin. One woman is injured in a demolished 3-story home on Old Hillsboro Road. Another F-3 tornado causes severe damage in the Walterhill community of Rutherford County.
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 104° at Rio Grande Village, Texas
Low: 13° at Atlantic City, Wyoming and Stanley, Idaho
Today’s Tennessee Weather
Some of us will see more sun than we did yesterday, but there will still be plenty of clouds in our Tennessee skies today. As we get later into the day, showers will begin moving in from the south. There may even be a rumble of thunder or two for those of you nearest the southern border. Temps will be a bit warmer today across the state, with everyone reaching the mid to upper 60s.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Tonight’s Tennessee Weather
The showers that began moving in during the latter part of Tuesday will continue moving in during the night. Counties nearest the southern border of Tennessee will once again have the best chance for hearing a rumble of thunder. It’s a chilly rain for this time of year, with lows in the 40s for most.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Tomorrow’s Tennessee Weather
Wednesday holds more clouds, and perhaps a shower, for many of us. The farther north you go the better your chances are for seeing some sunshine. Temperatures remain below normal for this time of year, with highs in the low to mid 60s statewide. Highs this time of year are normally well into the 70s across the state.
Map created by WeatherWX.com
Wednesday’s Weather 101 w/ Meteorologist Mark (Coming May 12th!)
Drought Monitor
The drought monitor is updated each Thursday.
Weather SnapShots (NEW!)
Two people in this vehicle were injured in Florida on I-10 yesterday. Lightning struck the roadway near them and threw a chunk of the road through their windshield and out the back window! A freak accident, for sure. Both people inside were taken to the hospital with injuries.
NASA Nerdology
The OSIRIS-REx probe began heading for Earth yesterday, kicking off a 1.4-billion-mile journey that will culminate with the touchdown of its sample capsule in the Utah desert in September 2023.
That capsule is full of pristine material that OSIRIS-REx collected from the near-Earth Asteroid Bennu in October 2020. It is believed that asteroids hold clues to our own planet’s beginnings.
