Author: Meteorologist Mark

We are currently in a break from some of the heavier showers. More development is expected later on.

The Storm Prediction Center is considering a severe t-storm watch that will extend into southern Middle TN from Mississippi and Alabama. Those storms will eventually make their way into our neck of the woods later today. The more sun we get this afternoon, the stronger the storms could be here later on.

We are still not looking at a widespread severe weather threat, but a few of the storms could pack a punch, with damaging wind gusts and large hail. The tornado threat continues to look quite low.

I’ll keep an eye on things and update as necessary.

We’ve had some heavy April showers cross the plateau this morning. Now, we’re in a break. As you can see on radar, though, more batches of showers and t-showers are off to our southwest, moving our general direction. So, today will be unsettled. As we build up some heat during the day (esp if that sun comes out) the storms may become a little stronger. That yellow-shaded area is a slight risk for severe storms. That encompasses all of Middle TN but doesn’t quite cover the whole plateau. We’re mostly in the marginal risk. What this all means is that widespread severe wx is not expected, but a few storms could become briefly severe, with hail and damaging wind gusts the main threats. Just be aware of this if you plan to be out and about this afternoon and evening. The risk for tornadoes is very low. I’ll be watching it!

Today’s risk for raindrops makes this week’s Sunday Story perfectly timed!

The Raindrop

We have all been hit on the head by a raindrop at some point in our lives. It happens to the best of us. Did you ever wonder just how fast that drop was falling?

Naturally, the speed of the falling drop is heavily dependent on the size of the drop; larger drops fall faster than smaller drops. That doesn’t tell the whole story, though.

As the drop falls, it encounters a lot of friction from the air around it. That really slows that drop down! Still, most raindrops fall to the ground at about two miles per hour.

The largest drops fall at speeds of nearly 20 mph! These are those great big raindrops that we mostly see in the bigger summertime storms. Often times you can hear them hitting the roof of the house when they first start falling.

A raindrop cannot fall faster than 18 mph. If the drop falls any faster than that it will break apart in flight and become multiple drops.

Another interesting aspect of a raindrop is that, as it falls, friction causes the base of the drop to become flat. Contrary to artists’ depictions of raindrops, they are not tear shaped at all. They are actually shaped more like a hamburger bun, being flat on the bottom and then curved on top.

Sometimes, drier air here at ground level can cause the drop to evaporate before it makes it to the ground. Raindrops that evaporate before reaching the ground are called virga.

We have certainly seen our fair share of raindrops around the plateau over the past year, with 2018 being the wettest year on record for us. I know many of you are tired of seeing them fall. Hopefully, they’ll at least keep falling enough to keep us out of drought this summer!

This has been a nice Saturday, right? It doesn’t get much better than this in April. You may be thinking, “I bet we pay for this.” We do have showers and storms coming in late tonight and tomorrow but the chances for severe weather are not that great. It looks like mostly good old-fashioned April showers and thundershowers.

We are in the marginal risk for severe weather for Sunday, which is the lowest of the risk categories. Still, I’ll keep an eye on it.

You all enjoy this fine evening!

Main threats

SUNDAY: Strong to severe t-thunderstorms are possible.

Summary

Today is looking fantastic! Be sure and get outside if you can. The showers and storms will move in tonight, and they should be with us through our Sunday. Some of the thunderstorms later tonight and Sunday could be on the strong to severe side, with damaging straight-line winds looking like the main threat. I’ll keep an eye on that and do a special update on all of this later this evening.

Showers continue on Monday, before tapering off on Tuesday. Wednesday is looking like the sunniest day of  the week, before more showers and storms move in for Thursday.

The latest convective outlook has the plateau in the marginal and slight risk zones for severe storms. I’ll be watching it all! The severe threat looks to be with throughout the day. I hope I can narrow down more specific times as more data comes in today. Stay tuned. The good news is that the tornado threat looks low (but not zero).

WeatherTAP WeatherFACT

The number one severe weather killer is flooding. Even in hurricanes, it’s not the wind that kills the most people; it’s the flooding. Even though we rank hurricanes by wind power (cat 1, cat 2, and so forth), the most dangerous aspect is the flooding.

One of the most common ways to die in flooding is driving across flooded roads. Never, ever, ever, drive across a flooded road. It just may be your last.

The deadliest non-severe weather killer is heat.

Records

The city of Nashville was blanketed with 1.1 inches of snow on this day in 1971. The high temperature of 42 is the lowest recorded high temperature for the date.

A horrific tornado outbreak killed 446 people in the Deep South on this day in 1936. Mississippi was hit especially hard. In Tupelo, Mississippi 216 were killed, with another 700 injured, when a large and violent tornado ripped through town. In Georgia, a tornado struck the Cooper Pants Factory, killing 70. This is the largest tornado death toll in a single building in U.S. history.

Almanac

The almanac wasn’t available this morning, for some reason. 

Yesterday’s record high:

Yesterday’s record low:

Today’s record high:

Today’s record low:

Today’s sunset: 7:06

Tomorrow sunrise: 6:16

Today’s day length: 12 hrs 48 mins 13 secs

Tomorrow’s day length: 12 hrs 50 mins 27 secs

One year ago today

It was a wet and mild day. The high climbed to 54 degrees and the low was 42. We fell just short of receiving and inch of rain (0.49). Winds were from the south at an average speed of 4 mph.

Astronomy 

Sky viewing conditions tonight: POOR

Moon phase: Waxing Crescent, 1% illumination

What to look for in the night sky tonight

Cloudier skies will likely hamper the view.

News

Come on out today and enjoy some good food, good music, and good company for a REALLY good cause! Plus, Meteorologist Mark will be there! 🙂