Welcoming the 2011 Preakness
Friday, May 20, 2011 9:30 AM EDT
The fire danger is down,
the flood danger stays up.
Video from Mark Ingalls, our Forecaster from the Pacific Northwest.
Check it out!
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
The Rain, The Storms...Maybe a Break Soon?
The Flooding continues...but so do the Fire Hazards...
Video from Mark Ingalls, our Forecaster from the Pacific Northwest.
Check it out!
Thursday, May 19, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
The Rain, The Storms, The Snow, The Dryness, and The Flood Continue...
10:50 PM EDT Friday 5/20/11 In celebration of a glorious May weekend along the East Coast, we are pleased to present this exclusive video forecast from a collaboration between The Baltimore Sun and Foot's Forecast: Our race-day forecast for the 136th racing of the Preakness at Pimlico Race-track in Central Maryland. Scroll to the bottom of the Sun's website to see our team forecast, and you can get the latest on race day events from the Baltimore Sun's Preakness site.
Friday, May 20, 2011 9:30 AM EDT
The fire danger is down,
the flood danger stays up.
Video from Mark Ingalls, our Forecaster from the Pacific Northwest.
Check it out!
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
Dry weather will finally reach the Eastern U.S. as our Low finally moves offshore this weekend. Showers and thunderstorms will continue until the system is gone. Another Low is coming down from the Rockies, and, coupled with a cold front, will bring possible severe weather to the Plains. Locally heavy rainfall could occur in the Northern sections. The Rockies and Tetons may receive more heavy, high-elevation, snowfall. The Mississippi has crested at Vicksburg, and will be its highest at Natchez on Saturday. Red Flag areas have fortunately diminished…at least for today.
The Climate Prediction Center has forecast an “above-normal” Atlantic hurricane season:
Named Storms = 12-18
Hurricanes = 6-10
Major Hurricanes (Cat 3+) = 3-6
2011 Atlantic Hurricane Names HERE.
The Rain, The Storms...Maybe a Break Soon?
The Flooding continues...but so do the Fire Hazards...
Video from Mark Ingalls, our Forecaster from the Pacific Northwest.
Check it out!
Thursday, May 19, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
That slo-o-o-w-moving Low over the Ohio Valley will finally make it to the Coast by Saturday, somewhere near New Jersey. This movement will lessen the precipitation now falling on the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas. A Cold Front pushing in before a Low over the Rockies will bring the potential of severe weather across the Plains south into Texas. Heavy, but high-elevation, snow is expected in Utah, Colorado, and Montana.
Lake Champlain and the Mississippi are still having major flooding. An Army Corps of Engineers official stated yesterday that the flooding produced on the Atchafalaya basin by the opening of the Morganza Spillway was cresting much slower than anticipated due to the severe drought that had been affecting the area,. Much of the flood waters were be absorbed by the parched soil.
Fire remains a severe danger in seven states today.
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCASTThe Rain, The Storms, The Snow, The Dryness, and The Flood Continue...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
The lingering Low over the Mid-Atlantic will weaken and slowly move Northward. Ohio Valley, New England and the Mid-Atlantic areas will see showers and thunderstorms off and on until the system moves off the coast, which may not be until Friday afternoon. A Low over Utah is expected to strengthen and bring precipitation to the Rockies into The Great Plains. Winter Storm warnings are posted in California and Colorado.
Red Flag Warnings are up in five States today.
Preparations for Mississippi Flooding continue downstream into Louisiana.
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCASTWater flows...downhill
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
The slowly-moving Low over the Mid-Atlantic will eventually make its way into New England later this week, and continue to bring precipitation, from light rain to severe thunderstorms to the Southeast, Ohio Valley, and into the Northeast. Severe weather is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic. Flood Statements are posted in 70% of the lower 48 States.
California and the Mountain West can expect rain, with snowfall, possibly heavy, in the higher elevations.
The Mississippi River Flood is currently cresting in Arkansas City at slightly over 53 feet.
Red Flag Warnings are posted in six States.
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
Fire, Snow, Rain, Flooding....
Monday, May 16, 10:00 AM EDT
Precipitation will fall in California as a system approaches from the Pacific. Heavy snow is possible in the Sierras. Two lows hovering over the East could bring rainfall and perhaps severe thunderstorms to that area. Red Flags are posted out West, up North, and in Florida.
The Mississippi will crest at Vicksburg this week, Baton Rouge next Monday, and New Orleans will remain at crest level for the next two weeks. The Morganza Spillway was opened Saturday, flooding the Atchafalaya Basin, affecting over 22,000 people.
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCASTNo Fire Problems...but we have some with water...
Saturday, May 14, 9:20 AM EDT
Showers and thunderstorms will be a large part of the weekend weather for the Central and Eastern parts of the country. Mississippi flooding will crest in Vicksburg next Thursday, and New Orleans in about two weeks. Evacuations are proceeding in the Atchafalaya River Basin in Louisiana as the Army Corps of Engineers are opening the Morganza Spillway to divert flood waters away from Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Snow is moving into the Pacific Northwest and Northern California
There are no Red Flag Warnings posted in the lower 48.
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCASTFriday, 13 May (whoa...)
The Blog site has been down, and we still have problems
Please see here for NWS Statements for today
We Got Rain, Floods, Snow, Floods, Thunderstorms, Floods, Fire Danger, Floods, Sunshine... and Floods.
WEDNESDAY 5/11/2001 9:15 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
A Pacific system remains stalled over the ocean, and will send Low after Low into the Pacific Northwest. The first will arrive today and eventually bring heavy snow to the High Rockies.
A stronger Low will move across the Central Great Plains and initiate numerous thunderstorms across the center of our country. There were two tornadoes reported yesterday in Minnesota. Yet another Low may spark some severe weather in the Southeast. Flooding remains an on going danger throughout the major River Basins in the U.S., including their backed-up tributaries. The Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West Coast look relatively nice today.
Another Day of Floods, Thunderstorms, Snow, Flooding...and Fire Dangers...
TUESDAY 5/10/2001 10:15 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
The Northern Plains has a Low that is deepening and this will produce precipitation over much of that area as well as the Mountain West, with high elevations receiving perhaps over a foot of new snow.
There are chances of severe thunderstorms across the Ohio Valley southeastward into the Carolinas. Lesser chances exist across the Upper Plains. There were two tornadoes reported in South Dakota and one in Nebraska yesterday.
The Mississippi River is cresting in Memphis, eventually to reach New Orleans in about two weeks.
There are Extremely High Fire Dangers posted in the Southwest, West and Parts of Florida.
On This Day After Mother's Day...Mother Nature is Being, Well...Mother Nature...
MONDAY 5/9/2001 9:55 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
An upper level Low will bring possible Severe Storms to the Northern Plains and the Mid-West today. The Rockies could see heavier precipitation with Wintry Weather in the higher elevations. Heavy snow is expected in Montana and Idaho. Pop-up thunderstorms could occur later today in Texas and the Plains, but later this week triple-digits temperatures could be seen throughout the West, greatly increasing the fire risks. There are eight States with Red Flag Warnings today.
Flood Records are being set along the Mississippi, Ohio, and other rivers.
On This Mother's Day...Mother Nature Has It All..
SUNDAY 5/8/2001 10:10 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
The upper level Low moving into the Pacific Northwest will bring precipitation, generally in the form of snow in higher elevations. This moisture will move into the Western Regions, bringing with it the possibilities of thunderstorms. A Warm Front ahead of this system could bring rain, and perhaps severe storms, from the Plains States, southward through Texas. There is a chance of showers in New England. Five miles of the heavily-travelled Mississippi River is closed due to record-setting flooding. Two tornadoes were reported yesterday in Illinois, and hail and high winds registered in other parts of then Mid-West. Parts of the South will see bright sunshine today, while Southern California will see High Winds.
Critical Fire Weather is reported in nine states, including all of New Mexico and Arizona.
If It's Not Wet...It's Dry. If It's Not Dry...It's Wet...
SATURDAY 5/7/2001 11:00 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
Showers and thunderstorms are likely across the Plains today, bringing even more water to the Mississippi and Ohio River drainage systems. Flooding is at extreme conditions on those Rivers and their tributaries.
Red Flag Warnings are posted in seven States and a much larger area has Fire Weather Statements issued. Drought continues to plague much, or parts of, 15 States.
Precipitation is possible in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest as well. There could be pockets of snow in the elevated Western regions.
Storm Map is Still Looks Clear, but The Record-Setting Floods Continue...
FRIDAY 5/6/2001 9:30 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
One disturbance moving East may bring some scattered rain showers to the Great Lakes and Southeast. Thunderstorms may occur in the South. A second, weak, area will travel from the Rockies to the Mid-West tonight, but only bring light rainfall. The West will get a third, also weak, system this afternoon into tomorrow, bringing with it a chance of some precipitation.
The Flooding of the Mississippi and Ohio drainage systems is, or will be, historic. Flooding on Lake Champlain has broken a 142-year-old record by a foot.
Seven States have Red Flags Warnings posted.
The Rockies continue to get Spring Snow.
Again, the Storm Map Looks Clear, but There are Record-Setting Floods Happening...
THURSDAY 5/5/2001 11:15 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
Another slow-moving, but weakening Front will move into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions and run out of moisture. Se light to moderate rain will fall on the already-soaked Mississippi Valley. Historic flood levels have been or will be reached in many places throughout those areas. The Mississippi passed a 74-year-old record yesterday in Missouri.
Another front is due to come through the Pacific Northwest, and bring rain to the Plains by tomorrow evening.
Red Flag Warnings are posted in much of Florida.
The departing Low in the Northeast could bring as much as a four-inch snowfall to the elevated areas there.
Lack of Storms for Today...but Plenty of Flooding, Cold, and Fire dangers.
WEDNESDAY 5/4/2001 9:30 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
That cold front will finally move off of the East Coast after noon today, with precipitation hanging on in the Northeast until tomorrow. There is a chance of some thunderstorms in the mix for the East today and tonight. Flooding remains a danger in many areas of the country, especially in the larger river basins. A second, weaker, drier front is moving across the Great Plains will eventually dissipate and travel to the Great Lakes by tomorrow night. There are Frost and Freeze warnings in many parts of the country. Red Flag Warnings are up in five states, and many additional thousands of acres have High Fire Dangers posted. The Rockies continue to see Spring Snow.
Quieter, still...but Watch for The Flooding, and those Thunderstorms..
TUESDAY 5/3/2001 10:45 AM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
That crawling cold front will finally reach the Atlantic Coast late tonight. The Gulf Moisture it is bringing will produce rain from the Deep South to the Great Lakes, then, by this evening, into the Northeast. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast could see a slight chance of some severe thunderstorms as this front passes this evening. There may be record flooding throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. The High Plains and Northern Rockies will see some light snow. Fire Dangers continue in the Southwest.
This is National Air Quality Week. The NWS and NOAA urge you to “Be Air Aware”
Even Quieter...but Watch the Rivers and Streams...
MONDAY 5/2/2001 6:00 PM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
The slow-moving cold front will make it over the Appalachians, where it will stall over the Mid-Atlantic and bring showers, and perhaps thunderstorms, to the East Coast region through Wednesday. Gulf moisture preceding this system will bring precipitation from the Southwest to the Ohio Valley. Flooding remains a serious concern through much of the country, especially the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. An additional cold front will bring high-elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest, by tonight, the Rockies.
Quieter...but not Quiet...
SUNDAY 5/1/2001 10:10 PM EDT
SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
The slow-moving cold front from the Texas to the Great Lakes will move into the Gulf Region and the Appalachians by tomorrow evening. Gulf moisture will feed a band of rain and thunderstorms in its path as it reaches the East Coast by early Tuesday.
Three tornadoes were reported in Texas yesterday, and a Watch is currently posted there now. Moderate snow is expected in Colorado and New Mexico, and flooding dangers are high throughout the Mississippi River Valley and river areas feeding it.
For us, it was more than just weather...
11:00 PM EDT SEVERE WEATHER see STORMCAST
Saturday 5:30 AM EDT 4/30/2011 As friends, family and colleagues across the South try to reclaim their lives and property from the devastating outbreak of this week, at least the weather pattern provides some solace.
The National Overview can be found in the next section, and for updated storm reports elsewhere in the U.S., please visit our Stormcasts page. If you have been moved to help our communities recover from this tragic event, please visit the American Red Cross website to learn how you can help.
COLLABORATION SAVED LIVES This catastrophic event was a reminder that our work on this website and in facebook goes beyond just weather forecasting. Though the disruption inflicted on our team is miniscule compared to our readers in the South, our student forecasters received a new life lesson in the importance of collaboration. Many of our forecasters in Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas were directly impacted by the widespread destruction of last week's system. Despite the dangers, students in ten different states continued to collaborate across regions and post watches and warnings in their facebook forecast pages. They did this solely to help keep the public informed, and receive no payment for their work.
While Storm Chaser Vince Webb's tracking vehicle was blown into a ditch in Mississippi, Forecaster Daniel Ross from Georgia Tech covered his page. As most of East Tennessee went red with Tornado Warnings, Forecaster Mark Ingalls of Washington State and Advisor Forrest Palmer in West Virginia jumped in to help Jeremy Buckles in Knoxville, TN while he took cover as a twister went right through his dorm complex. As Tornado sirens sounded in across Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, members of the Mid-Atlantic team signed on to cover NWS Tornado warning update in several Southeast forecast pages. Forecaster Nic Robeson in High Point NC went from posting updates for his region to taking cover as funnel clouds approached while Nikki Byers from St.Marys, Maryland took his page. (photo posted by Forecaster Nic in NC)On behalf of the U.S. Team of Forecast Advisors, it is an honor and privilege for us to serve with such an inspiring and dedicated team of forecasters. If these fine students are a sign of things to come in America today, then our future remains very bright indeed. ~Mr. Foot, Dundalk, MD.
SPRING FLOOD RISK Flooding will remain most significant risk to those in a long recovery period across the South and Midwest. Torrential rains associated with many of the supercell storms have filled rivers, including the Mississippi, to the brim. Deep concern exists that levees in Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana may not hold, creating a flood danger which may equal or exceed that of the historic 1927 Great Mississippi Flood. We urge readers who live in a flood-prone area to seek higher ground, and do not drive across flooded roadways. Monitor your local NWS forecasts for any flood warnings which may be posted later today.
NATIONAL OVERVIEW 4/30/2011 10:00 AM EDT
Red Flag Warnings and Critical Fire Weather Statements are posted in large areas of the Southwest and Southeast. A cold front will move into an area from the Lower Mississippi River Valley to the Great Lakes. Gulf moisture will provide rain through out the area, with the possibility of some severe thunderstorms. Snow will fall in the North in blizzard conditions, while the Rockies continue their Spring Snowfall.
Please see the STORMCAST or Facebook pages for more details or updates
Historic outbreak claims over 335 lives
Photo credit: CNN
11:05 AM EDT Thursday 4/28/2011 Our Forecast Team shares great sorrow for the catastrophic losses of life and property which have devastated numerous close-knit communities and major cities alike across the Southeastern United States. This event may rank as the first or second largest tornado outbreak in the history of U.S. climate records. However, our team does not enjoy witnessing destruction of a single home or injury of one person, because we all know those affected have families, friends and colleagues just like us. We serve our readers with weather updates in social media and on this site in order to provide an extra eye and voice for as many National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center advisories, watches and warnings as we can manage.
We want all those who have been affected to know we stand with you in this very difficult time and remain committed to doing everything we can to keep readers readily updated informed of NWS statements whenever they are issued. You should always refer to your local NWS Forecast Office, as we do, for the original source of information, so collectively, readers and forecasters can work to help us all stay informed when weather breaks in your area.
(Mr. Foot and the U.S. Advisory Team)
FOR FORECAST TEAM COVERAGE IN THE EASTERN U.S., visit our Severe Weather Pages for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, which contain links to zones currently being impacted by the next round in this outbreak along the East Coast. We also post general updates in the Stormcasts page. In a high impact period such as this, our updates appear first in the facebook forecast page of the affected area and then are reposted on this site.
(Previous updates from 4-27 follow)
Beyond imaginationFOR FORECAST TEAM COVERAGE IN THE EASTERN U.S., visit our Severe Weather Pages for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, which contain links to zones currently being impacted by the next round in this outbreak along the East Coast. We also post general updates in the Stormcasts page. In a high impact period such as this, our updates appear first in the facebook forecast page of the affected area and then are reposted on this site.
(Previous updates from 4-27 follow)
115+ TORNADO REPORTS IN THE SOUTHEAST
9:55 PM EDT Wed 4/27/2011 The overnight hours of this outbreak may prove to be the most dangerous of all, as residents sign off for the night not realizing the risk of tornadoes remains very high across much of the Eastern U.S. tonight. If you live in an area under a Tornado Watch, we urge you to keep your phone charged, have a working flashlight on hand and leave your windows open-- in the event severe weather occurs, you may be able to hear it easier than if the windows are closed.
Our local teams across the Southeast continue to post rapid updates in Facebook for Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Several forecasters have had to take cover themselves or have captured funnel clouds and large hail on camera in between updates to our readers in facebook. This will be a long and challenging night in the Southeast for residents and public safety workers alike which have been dealing with this historic outbreak for 24 hours.
For readers in the Mid-Atlantic, the tornado risk remains front and center into the overnight hours. You can follow our updates in Central VA and the VA Tidewater, Western Maryland & WV Panhandle, Central Maryland, The Capital Region, the Bayshore, as well as Central and Southeast Pennsylvania.
Our local teams across the Southeast continue to post rapid updates in Facebook for Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Several forecasters have had to take cover themselves or have captured funnel clouds and large hail on camera in between updates to our readers in facebook. This will be a long and challenging night in the Southeast for residents and public safety workers alike which have been dealing with this historic outbreak for 24 hours.
For readers in the Mid-Atlantic, the tornado risk remains front and center into the overnight hours. You can follow our updates in Central VA and the VA Tidewater, Western Maryland & WV Panhandle, Central Maryland, The Capital Region, the Bayshore, as well as Central and Southeast Pennsylvania.
A REPORT FROM BIRMINGHAM, AL...
"It seems as if the Hand of God came down and removed parts of the city..."
Video from Alabama's NBC Channel 13
Wednesday 4/27 9:50 AM EDT The front that has been pounding the Mid-West is moving. It should reach the Atlantic by tomorrow night. Heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes are possible as this cold front advances. Yesterday's reports included almost 450 severe outbreaks including 48 tornadoes. Many areas are saturated, and flooding is a significant danger as streams and rivers overflow, or breech their levees.
Large fires in the Southwest continue to burn, covering over one-half of a million acres. The Cascades and Northern Rockies will see more Snow.
The Rain, the Floods, the Storms Continue...
9:45 PM EDT: Latest NWS advisories in Stormcast
AMBER ALERT- WEST VIRGINIA
10:20 AM EDT Tuesday 4/26/2011
Once again, we have a upper-level disturbance that will become mired while crossing the Mid-West. This low will strengthen, and move towards the Great Lakes by tonight where it will remain through tomorrow. The result of which will be more rainfall to an already soaked area.
There will be a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms in the Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana/Arkansas and the Mississippi/Tennessee conglomerate areas. The Tennessee and Ohio Valleys and areas into Pennsylvania and the Northeast are facing the possibility of severe weather.
The Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West will see some Wintry Precipitation, eventually pushing into The Plains. there are also Avalanche Warnings posted in the PNW.
Extreme Wildfire Dangers still exist in the Southwest, with Red Flag Warnings posted for parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
TORNADO WATCHES IN CENTRAL STATES
FLOOD WARNINGS IN THE OZARKS
STORMS EN ROUTE TO ST. LOUIS...AGAIN
6:20 PM EDT Monday 4/25/2011 With several Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches in effect for portions of the Southern states and Mid-Atlantic, latest NWS advisories will be posted in our Stormcast page. This outbreak is uniquely timed with National Sky Awareness Week, an effort led by How The Weatherworks and Meteorologist H. Michael Mogil, one of our team advisors from Naples, FL. Read about the program in our Central Florida forecast page, led by Forecaster Matt Bolton of Brooksville, FL.
GET A LOCAL VIEW FROM OUR TEAM...IN YOUR STATE. As weather begins to break across several states this afternoon and evening, you can follow updates in facebook by our student teams across 14 states including Mississippi, East Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and several times within the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic.
Our forecast areas to be affected this evening include Central Pennsylvania and the Potomac Ridge & Valley later tonight. We also have teams across Maryland, the Capital Region, Virginia and North Carolina. For readers in the Pacific Northwest, stop in to visit our newest page led by Forecaster Mark Ingalls in southeast Washington.
Visit our partner, How The Weatherworks for more information about National Sky Awareness Week... a weather education initiative which can truly save lives.
11:00 AM EDT 4/25/2011 NATIONAL OVERVIEW: More rain is on tap for the Mid-West as a Low sets up over that area at least through Tuesday. This situation will pull even more Gulf moisture into play, producing heavy rain and possible severe weather. The danger for severe storms exists in parts of Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana, areas of Mississippi and Tennessee. The Ohio Valley into Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic should keep a close an eye to the sky.
After a welcome period of calm and dry weather, the Pacific Northwest is receiving the next round of precipitation from an approaching system, while the Southwest is still under a High Risk of Fire. The Rockies and the Intermountain West expect more Spring snow.
GET A LOCAL VIEW FROM OUR TEAM...IN YOUR STATE. As weather begins to break across several states this afternoon and evening, you can follow updates in facebook by our student teams across 14 states including Mississippi, East Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and several times within the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic.
Our forecast areas to be affected this evening include Central Pennsylvania and the Potomac Ridge & Valley later tonight. We also have teams across Maryland, the Capital Region, Virginia and North Carolina. For readers in the Pacific Northwest, stop in to visit our newest page led by Forecaster Mark Ingalls in southeast Washington.
Visit our partner, How The Weatherworks for more information about National Sky Awareness Week... a weather education initiative which can truly save lives.
11:00 AM EDT 4/25/2011 NATIONAL OVERVIEW: More rain is on tap for the Mid-West as a Low sets up over that area at least through Tuesday. This situation will pull even more Gulf moisture into play, producing heavy rain and possible severe weather. The danger for severe storms exists in parts of Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana, areas of Mississippi and Tennessee. The Ohio Valley into Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic should keep a close an eye to the sky.
After a welcome period of calm and dry weather, the Pacific Northwest is receiving the next round of precipitation from an approaching system, while the Southwest is still under a High Risk of Fire. The Rockies and the Intermountain West expect more Spring snow.
A "peaceful" Easter yielded 170 preliminary
severe weather reports, and only 8 tornadoes.
Severe Weather @ Stormcasts
6:55 AM EDT Sunday 4/24/2011 Residents of the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley are reeling from the Friday-Saturday tornado outbreak during which 32 twisters scoured across multiple states. Some at the Lambert St. Louis International Airport are counting their many blessings as a preliminary rated EF-4 tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, converted the tarmac and terminal into what resembled a disaster movie set. Church roofs were ripped away, leaving those celebrating mass huddled under pews as shattered glass and debris rained down on them. As reported by CNN, after the storm departed one destroyed church, the congregation emerged to discover a silver cross among the few objects left standing. (Photo credit: CNN)
Despite this latest high-profile event occurring at an airport, many remain mindful of the sorrow and challenge facing residents of North Carolina and across the Southeast from last week's deadly events. Jack Hayes, Director of the National Weather Service, provided this straight-forward yet heartfelt report in the Raleigh News Observer on the value of investing in sky awareness and warning systems, and lessons learned when tornadoes strike.
WHAT ABOUT TODAY? This nerve-wracking, emergency service-straining outbreak period in the Midwest should not be as severe today, allowing those faced with reclaiming their lives and property a chance to attend services before returning to cleanup. The NOAA Storm Prediction has outlooked a large portion of the country's mid-section in a slight risk of severe weather for today. By tomorrow, a resurgence of warmer temperatures combined with an active jet stream is raising concerns for severe activity, as noted by increased probabilities in the SPC Day 2 outlook for Monday in the graphic shown.
LOOKING BACK Affiliate Forecaster Joe Puma in metro Chicago has posted reports for the St. Louis event and surrounding states for the 4-22/23 event. Reports such as these are helpful insight from students in our team-wide effort to better understand the long range weather pattern responsible for these outbreaks.
LOOKING BACK Affiliate Forecaster Joe Puma in metro Chicago has posted reports for the St. Louis event and surrounding states for the 4-22/23 event. Reports such as these are helpful insight from students in our team-wide effort to better understand the long range weather pattern responsible for these outbreaks.
Prepare for the next event...and join our team. If you are in the recently hard-hit Midwest or Southeast and are seeking better collaboration with a team devoted to helping redistribute NWS warnings to the public, contact us anytime of the day or night: footsforecast@gmail.com.
From our "forecast family" to yours, warm wishes for a peaceful Easter Sunday. - The U.S. Team of Foot's Forecast
From our "forecast family" to yours, warm wishes for a peaceful Easter Sunday. - The U.S. Team of Foot's Forecast
Great for the Rocky Mountain skiers...
Not so good for egg-rolling in the Midwest
DETAILS IN THE STORMCAST PAGE
Saturday, 4/23/2011, 9:40 AM EDT A lingering front across the center of the country into the Mid-Atlantic will continue to drench already sodden ground, increasing the flooding potential. Moisture from the Gulf continues to feed this system, canceling or postponing numerous outdoor Saturday Easter activities. Storms along this front have the potential to become severe. Yesterday, over 250 Severe Weather reports were submitted which included 24 tornadoes. The Lambert-St. Louis Airport was severely damaged, and remains closed this morning.
Critical Fire Weather areas are posted in the Southwest, as well as Northern Florida. The Rockies will see more snow today, tonight and tomorrow.
Snow in the North, Rain in the Mid-west and East;
Fire danger in the South & Southwest
10:30 AM EDT Friday 4/22/2011 The weather has made Earth Day celebrations in some parts of our planet a bit challenging, starting with the already-saturated Mid-West, now being drenched once again. This storm system is being sponsored by a wave train of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This system will hang tough for a while as part of event to stall across the middle of the Mississippi River Valley. Rain will move into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today or tonight. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the Northern central states. Severe weather is possible in a band from Texas through Missouri and into Ohio. Red Flag Warnings are somewhat reduced in the Southwest…but still critical, and have just been posted in South Florida.
