Our major midwinter storm is underway...heavy snow & some ice extends from Colorado to Iowa to Illinois & Michigan including Chicago. As much as 12-18" of snow will fall in parts of Iowa & Illinois! On the "warm side" of the storm a big severe storm outbreak is ongoing with numerous thunderstorms -- including supercells -- producing very heavy rain, hail, high winds & tornadoes. These will be fast-moving storms throughout the night -- a very dangerous situation. Check out the text of a tornado warning early Tue. evening from the Memphis, TN N.W.S.: ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CST FOR SHELBY AND NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTIES...
...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR THE WARNED AREA...
AT 548 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GERMANTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BARTLETT...COLLIERVILLE...ELLENDALE...LAKELAND...EADS...SOMERVILLE...
OAKLAND...GALLAWAY AND ARLINGTON.
.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.
Check out these photos from our Clear Channel affiliate in Memphis.
This system will move eastward allowing for one more very warm day for the First Coast. The record high for Jax Wed. is 85 set in 1989, & we'll get real close. The front arrives Wed. night with a weakening band of showers & perhaps a few thundershowers. While a few severe storms will still occur from the Fl. Panhandle through Ga. into the Carolinas & maybe as far north as D.C. during the day Wed., the timing (night) of the front + the strong upper level disturbance lifting out well to the north of the First Coast should mean little in the way of strong storms for the Jax area. A few isolated cells could develop out ahead of the main line late in the day/evening which would have the chance to be a little stronger but overall I'm not anticipating much in the way of severe weather for the First Coast. Rainfall
Wed. night will not be great averaging a quarter of an inch or less with an isolated spot or two managing a half inch. Much cooler temps. will follow for Thu.
National Weatherperson's Day! It's today -- a big deal, of course, in the First Alert Weather Center in what's been a big week. Groundhogs Day Sat. & now Weatherperson's Day! This from "Holiday Insights":
National Weatherman's Day
When : Always February 5th
National Weatherman's Day honors weathermen, and woman who work hard to accurately predict the often fickle weather. Despite major technological advances and supercomputers, forecasting the weather is still a tricky, and ever changing business.
Knowing the weather is important in so many ways. It affect how we dress, where we go, and even if we go. Space launches are made or delayed depending upon the weather. And, knowing the weather can save lives. The most obvious example is knowing when and where hurricanes or tornados may hit.
According to the Air Force News, Weatherman's Day "commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, one of America's first weathermen". Jeffries was born on Feb 5, 1744. He kept weather records from 1774 to1816.
If you see a weatherman today, give them your appreciation for a job well done.
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Origin of National Weatherman's Day:
While we know why this day was created, we do not know who initiated it or when.
We found no documentation in congressional records to confirm that this is truely a national day.
"Hazardous Weather Awareness Week" continues...today's topic is marine safety & rip currents. Rip currents have killed more Americans each year the last 10 years than hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding & lightning.
