Month: April 2019

Main threats

No significant threats in sight.

Summary

If you want more active weather, just head west to Oklahoma and Kansas today. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are all in the forecast for them today.

As for us, we have nothing but some clouds, sunshine and warm temperatures to look forward to today and tomorrow.

It looks like the next chance of rain should hold off until after dark on Wednesday. Then, we enter an unsettled pattern that will feature chances of showers and storms each day through Saturday. I don’t think any of those days will be a total washout, but definitely days to keep an eye on the radar for those showers and storms.

By Sunday, those rain chances drop off and activity becomes more isolated.

As I’ve been saying, there continue to be no indications of widespread severe weather for the plateau with this system. Still, a few storms could become locally strong, with gusty winds, lightning and heavy downpours of rain.

WeatherTAP WeatherFACT

A home can never explode from pressure differences from a tornado, therefore opening your windows before a tornado arrives is pointless. In fact, that is wasted time that you could be spending taking cover.

No home is so airtight that pressure can’t change with the storm. With cracks around doors and windows, vents for bathrooms and clothes driers, etc. your home has more than enough ways to quickly equalize air pressure. Plus, the tornadoes winds will take off your roof long before unequal pressure could be a problem!

Records

The tornado outbreak of 1909, that I told you about yesterday, continues today. It was shortly after 1:00 a.m. that an F-2 tornado roars through Cookeville and Algood. Yet another tears a path across Fentress, Morgan, and Scott Counties. Six deaths and 30 injuries resulted from these very early-morning tornadoes.

Many of you have probably heard of the big Tri-state tornado of 1925? Well, on this day in 1852 a tornado took the same path of the Tri-state tornado! Due to sparse settlement, only 16 people were killed. Seventy-three years later, the Tri-state tornado would take the lives of 695 people along this same path.

Below is a map the tri-state tornadoes took.

Almanac

Yesterday’s record high: 84 (2017, 1994)

Yesterday’s record low: 29 (1992)

Today’s record high: 86 (1962)

Today’s record low: 34 (2018)

Today’s sunset: 7:26

Tomorrow sunrise: 5:46

Today’s day length: 13 hrs 38 mins 53 secs

Tomorrow’s day length: 13 hrs 40 mins 49 secs

One year ago today

The high was a spring-like 74 degrees. That was quite the warm-up from a frosty low of 34 degrees! No rain fell and winds were light from the northeast. That dry air can really heat up and cool off fast!

Astronomy 

Sky viewing conditions tonight: POOR to GOOD (depends on clouds)

Moon rise: 4:23 Wednesday morning

Moon phase: Waning Crescent, 19% illumination

What to look for in the night sky tonight

Clouds will likely hinder any good sky viewing.

News

The big weather headlines today will come from the southern plains. An enhanced risk for severe storms has been outlined from eastern Oklahoma to southwest Missouri (see map below). A slight risk (yellow) covers a substantial part of real-estate across the southern plains and Midwest. Large hail, damaging winds, a few tornadoes are all expected. These storms are along the western edge of the high pressure that is in control of our weather today.

You all have a great day!

 

 

Main threats

No hazardous weather is in sight.

Summary

We’re looking at two very nice days in a row, before some much-needed showers begin making a comeback. Things dry out fast this time of year and plants and trees need lots of water right now. The showers we pick up the second half of this week will be quite welcome.

The good news, too, is that there are no indications of widespread severe weather for the next week to ten days. That is incredible for this time of year around here. Sure, a strong storm or two could happen but we’re just not seeing the ingredients for a widespread severe weather outbreak.

The wettest day of the week will likely be Friday, with just isolated to scattered showers/t-storms on the other days with rain chances. There’s also no significantly colder air in sight, though we all know Blackberry winter is coming at some point. I looked as far out as I can with the model data this morning and I can see the makings of a strong cold front coming about this time next week. We’ll see if that ends up being Blackberry winter. The thunder in February said we’d have frost around May 6, you know?

WeatherTAP WeatherFACT

Chicago isn’t called the “windy city” because of the weather. That nickname originated in the late 19th century and was in reference to all the hot air city politicians were known to blow.

Records

Today is the anniversary of a terrible tornado outbreak that hit Middle Tennessee. Sixty-two people lost their lives, making this the third deadliest tornado outbreak in Middle TN history. The year was 1909. The second, single deadliest tornado to hit the Midstate occurred with this outbreak down in Giles and Lincoln Counties. That was when a powerful F-4 killed 31 people and injured another 70. The community of Bee Spring lost 22 people.

Another powerful twister, this time an F-3, hit Hickman and Williamson Counties, just south of Nashville. That twister killed 17, as it destroyed 75 homes. Another F-3 struck Clarksville, northwest of Nashville, killing four. At least 12 tornadoes struck that evening and into the overnight hours.

Killing 60 people in Tennessee, this was the deadliest tornado outbreak for our state until March 21, 1952. That outbreak killed 64 people died statewide.

The map below shows the tornado paths across Middle TN. You’ll notice that the plateau even had some tornadoes.

On this day in 1963, a violent twister struck Shannon, Mississippi, near Tupelo. The tornado destroyed 27 homes along it’s 18-mile path. Most impressive was when it crossed Highway 45 and ripped away the asphalt, throwing it hundreds of yards away.

Almanac

Yesterday’s record high: 84 (1994)

Yesterday’s record low: 32 (1992)

Today’s record high: 84 (2017, 1994)

Today’s record low: 29 (1992)

Today’s sunset: 7:25

Tomorrow sunrise: 5:47

Today’s day length: 13 hrs 36 mins 56 secs

Tomorrow’s day length: 13 hrs 38 mins 53 secs

One year ago today

It was a pleasant spring day, with a high of 62 degrees and a morning low of 39. No rainfall was recorded.

Astronomy 

Sky viewing conditions tonight: POOR

Moon rise: 3:55 a.m. Tuesday morning

Moon phase: Waning Crescent, 27% illumination

What to look for in the night sky tonight

Clouds will likely hinder a good view of the sky. However, if you should catch a break and skies clear this evening be sure and look for Sirius in the southwestern sky. It is the night sky’s brightest star. Just look about 10 degrees high in the sky.

Below is a map of the night sky at 8:00 p.m. Sirius is circled in green in the southwest sky.

News

The severe weather threats seem to have already made a big shift westward. The threat this week can be found across the southern plains and Midwest. That’s often how it goes. The severe wx starts in the South in the early spring and then gradually shifts to the southern plains. Then, it shifts northward to the northern plains by June.

You all have a great day!

 

 

 

Your workweek forecast.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! After these early morning showers move out, we should be in good shape the rest of the day. Expect a high near 70 with partly cloudy skies.

This week’s Sunday story deals with tornado sirens. We won’t be hearing those anytime soon, thank goodness. Still, we need to be aware of the shortfalls of these sirens.

Sirens

Severe weather has already led to a lot of damage and injuries this spring in the U.S., and there are always those who claim they didn’t get the warning. With today’s technology, warnings are easier than ever to receive.

One issue that tends to cause headaches for forecasters is the use of outdoor air raid sirens, also known as tornado sirens. These systems are meant to be sounded only during a tornado warning and are only intended to be heard by those who are outside. The sounding of the siren means to take cover, because severe weather is imminent.

Arguably, these systems hurt more people than they help, and there is research to back that up. People mistakenly believe they can depend on the siren to sound, though that often depends on an individual to sound the siren.   

Pouring rain, wind, and hail can make the siren difficult to hear. You should never rely on a tornado siren alone for your warnings.

In fact, none of us should rely on one single way of getting our warnings. Have a NOAA weather radio. You can program it to only sound if a warning is issued for your county or surrounding counties. Also, have a reliable weather app. There are plenty on the market.

Perhaps the best way to stay safe is to stay aware. Check the forecast and know when severe weather is expected. Significant severe weather can be forecast days in advance.

Finally, have a plan. Know what you would do and where you would go if a warning is issued, before a warning is issued.  Being prepared for the storm will keep you safe in the storm.

I just posted this on Facebook but I’ll add it here, as well.

I just want to say Thank You to all who gave to my St. Jude fundraising campaign. Can you believe the grand total hit an even $2,500?! We hope and pray we never need St. Jude, but we better make sure they’re at their best in case we do. A total of 2 million dollars was raised for St. Jude from this race!

The race today was tougher than expected. The heat was an issue. The ever-evil hills of Nashville were an issue. My toes cramped…which is weird because that has never happened before. Toe cramps? I didn’t even know that was a thing (lol). ALL the woes were overshadowed by the grand total of my fundraising campaign. Some of you all really stepped it up from Thursday through today. Thanks for the surprise, y’all!

My goal was to finish in under 2 hours. I finished in 2 hrs, 2 mins. I told you all that would probably happen! lol  Last year’s time was 2 hrs 3 mins. Hey, at least I’m getting a little bit faster with age and not slower!

I placed 1,617 out of 13,830 half marathon runners. There were about as many marathoners but they tally us all up separately. Then, there were another 5,000+ runners doing the 5K. There were a LOT of runners!

I suppose that I should add that the NFL draft really put a damper on this year’s race. It was just too many people. Plus, our VIP experience for raising money for St. Jude was held in a bar in downtown Nashville this morning. Sure wasn’t as nice as Bridgestone Arena, where we normally have that. Then, it took me two hours to get out of the city after the race.

Again, thank you so much to all who gave.