Special Note
I’ll have a special blog post this afternoon at 2:00 to update you on the severe weather potential for Wednesday, as well as to provide helpful tips and ways to stay safe in spring storms, whether they come on Wednesday or any day of the year.
Headlines
Rain & storms for Monday (should be non-severe)
Rain & storms midweek could pack a punch
Turning cooler by the end of the week
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Vlog
48-Hour WX
Five-Day Forecast
Daily Forecast Summary
Today: Partly to mostly cloudy. Mild.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. Breezy.
Tuesday: Partly to mostly cloudy.
Wednesday: Rain and storms. Some storms could be severe.
Thursday: Showers and thundershowers. Breezy. Turning cooler.
48-Hour Precip Forecast
Meteorologist Mark’s 5-Day Wx Concerns
After looking at this weekend’s data and the trend of that data, I’ve decided to increase my concern for severe storms on Wednesday. At this time, I’m concerned this will be another overnight event. I’ll keep a close eye on this for you in the coming days.
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Discussion
The Storm Prediction Center continues to highlight Wednesday for severe weather in the South. They are right to do so. With a warm and humid airmass overspreading an enormous piece of real-estate, along with a powerful storm system moving in from the west, the main ingredients for a spring severe weather outbreak are coming together.
The main impacts may stay to our south and southwest. It certainly looks like Mississippi and Alabama are in the bullseye. However, there is enough concern that some of that will reach northward into Tennessee for us to start making people aware of the situation. Long-track tornadoes are possible in the Deep South and we always worry about how far north those storms will track….or will they just slide east across the Deep South? There are lots of questions to answer between now and Wednesday and I’ll be working hard to get us those answers. Meanwhile, just go ahead and make note that Wednesday and/or Wednesday night could hold some rough weather for us. Plan accordingly. I’ll keep you posted.
Also, if you know anyone who lives in Mississippi or Alabama you should make them aware of Wednesday’s threat for them. We want everyone to stay safe.
On This Day in Wx History
1933- An F-3 tornado touches down four miles west of downtown Nashville, killing 15, injuring 45, and continues for 45 miles, moving through Wilson and Smith Counties.
Sixty-five years later, on April 16, 1998, another F-3 tornado would take nearly the exact same path. Weird weather, indeed.
Almanac
Solar/Lunar Data
5 Days until Spring!
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 103° at Rio Grande Village, Texas
Low: -13° at Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming
Today’s National Wx Hazards
Accumulating snowfall is expected across portions of New England. Flooding rains are possible along the Missouri/Arkansas border. Farther north, freezing rain threatens northeast Iowa. Heavy snowfall will affect the Front Range of the Rockies, as well as the Sierra Nevada of California. A wildfire danger can be found across westernmost Texas. An active weather day!
Tomorrow’s National Wx Hazards
Freezing rain moves east and overspreads portions of the Midwest, from Wisconsin to Ohio. Accumulating snowfall threatens portions of the Rockies.
Sunday Story
The Sunday Story is a reprint of the weekly articles I write for the Fentress Courier and Livingston Enterprise. Get the story there first by subscribing to those papers!
The first week of March was severe weather awareness week in Tennessee. March, April, and May are the peak severe weather months for our state.
The deadliest form of severe weather is flooding. More people die in flooding than in any other form of severe weather. Driving across flooded roads is the most dangerous activity people do when flooding is occurring.
Underestimating water’s power is the most fatal characteristic of water. This is especially true when it comes to flooded roadways. Not knowing how deep the water is or how powerful its current is can prove fatal. The road may even be washed out, leading to a false impression of how deep the water is. Remember to turn around, don’t drown.
Make sure your family has a severe storm plan. Get to the lowest level of your house, away from windows, with as many walls as you can place between you and the outside.
Strap on a helmet. Storm injuries to the head are serious and common. Many of those head injuries could have been prevented with a helmet. A bicycle helmet works great!
Keep your shoes on when severe storms are nearby. If you end up with broken glass on the floor, the shoes will come in handy!
Abandon mobile homes and seek sturdier shelter. Most tornado deaths in the South are from folks in their mobile homes.
If caught in a tornado while driving, keep your seatbelt on and lie flat in the seat. Be aware of the weather and avoid finding yourself in this dangerous situation.
Finally, get a NOAA weather radio and make sure the batteries are fresh. Most tornado deaths occur at night. A weather radio can wake you up and give you a chance to take cover.
When it comes to spring storms, just be prepared, not scared.