WHAT: Severe storms with damaging winds
WHEN: 5:00-9:00 (let’s start being weather aware at 5:00 and track storms east)
The line of strong to severe storms coming into West Tn is what we’ll be tracking the rest of the afternoon. These storms are capable of wind gusts to 70 mph. They are quite potent this afternoon, with so much heat building, and it looks like they will pack a punch as they march across Middle TN this afternoon. Our sunshine is really helping to destabilize the atmosphere.
At the 3:00 pm update, the Storm Prediction Center has now highlighted the entire Cumberland Plateau in the SLIGHT RISK for severe storms, with an upgrade to ENHANCED RISK just off to our west. In fact, Putnam, White, and Overton Counties are in that enhanced risk for damaging straight-line winds. All of this is an upgrade to previous outlooks that had been issued this morning.
We all need to be weather aware as this line approaches. I did notice that short-term models tend to weaken this line as it moves onto the plateau. That’s not guaranteed but it does give some hope that the storms may settle down a bit before hitting us. With that being said, let’s take the time now to prepare for damaging winds. That could come with power outages and uprooted trees. Our trees are in very wet soils right now and that makes toppling them all the easier.
A discussion was just issued for our region and it states that damaging winds are expected to overspread the area this evening with this line. The tornado threat is low, but an isolated spin-up is not out of the question. A severe t-storm watch will be issued shortly for much of Middle TN.
My level of concern has increased.
