NewsWinter storm materializing...Tornado Watch still in effect in TX!
Posted At: November 30, 2006 @ 12:40 AM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
The vorticity maximum, in central NM at ~1:00 am CST, still appears to be digging southeastward as forecast by the WRF and the GFS. Not forecast by the 00z models, however, is the southward extent of the heavy snow at around 0700 UTC to the far south Texas Panhandle. The precip shield is also expanding rapidly as deeper moisture above the cold front is encountered, with convective elements forming on the eastern side east and southeast of Lubbock, TX. It appears that a 4-8 inch snowfall is very likely here in central OK, with greater than 12 inches possible to the north and east.
A tornado watch was also in effect until 2:00 am CST for parts of south TX (above right). An isolated supercell had several tornado warnings earlier in the evening west of Austin. This supercell is well south of cold front, and could easily survive for a few more hours.
We plan to wake up early in the morning and position ourselves underneath the heaviest snowband. I will update the blog continuously with pictures and video from this historic event.
A tornado watch was also in effect until 2:00 am CST for parts of south TX (above right). An isolated supercell had several tornado warnings earlier in the evening west of Austin. This supercell is well south of cold front, and could easily survive for a few more hours.
We plan to wake up early in the morning and position ourselves underneath the heaviest snowband. I will update the blog continuously with pictures and video from this historic event.
Winter storm warning issued for central OK - Tornado Watch issued for SE OK/N TX!!
Posted At: November 29, 2006 @ 11:30 AM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
An intense, textbook winter storm will impact the entire state of Oklahoma on Thursday, November 30, with a crippling snowfall possible over some locations. As of Wednesday afternoon, a tornado watch and winter storm warning were in effect simultaneously for some central and southeast Oklahoma counties. This could be the most severe winter storm we have seen in 5 years here in Oklahoma. The National Weather Service held a live briefing on NOAA weather radio at 3:00 pm CST, emphasizing the potential severity of this winter storm.
The graphic below shows the massive area of winter storm advisories, warnings, and watches over the central and southern U.S., and the tornado watch in effect over southern OK and northern TX. As of 4:30 pm CDT, the winter storm watches have been expanded to include much of the Great Lakes Region, where over a foot of snow could fall by Friday evening.
The OCS Mesonet map as of noon CST showed a STRONG cold front just south and east of Norman, with temperatures plunging to near and below freezing behind the front, with 70s ahead of the front. The cold front blew through Norman at around 7:30 am, and as of 4:30 pm, temperatures were in the upper 20s in central OK!!! setting the stage for frozen precipitation beginning in the early morning hours Thursday.
The WRF forecast for 12z Thursday shows a classic winter storm pattern for central OK, with a strong, closed vorticitiy maximum tracking just south of the Red River (upper left panel), a relatively intense surface low pressure center in Arkansas, and heavy precipitation falling in the deformation zone area over north TX, Oklahoma, and areas northeastward. Cold temperatures will not be a problem, with high temperatures on Thursday struggling to surpass the low 20s!!
Displayed below is the public information statement issued by the NWS in Norman notifying the area of the special briefing that was held at 3:00 pm. The NWS is forecasting 6-8 inches of snowfall over most of central and northern OK, with some locations receiving over a foot depending on the orientation of mesoscale convective bands. Thundersnow is definitely not out of the question from this winter storm. Stay tuned to TornadoVideos.net for continuous updates on this potentially dangerous winter weather situation, including video clips and pictures from the storm.
The graphic below shows the massive area of winter storm advisories, warnings, and watches over the central and southern U.S., and the tornado watch in effect over southern OK and northern TX. As of 4:30 pm CDT, the winter storm watches have been expanded to include much of the Great Lakes Region, where over a foot of snow could fall by Friday evening.
The OCS Mesonet map as of noon CST showed a STRONG cold front just south and east of Norman, with temperatures plunging to near and below freezing behind the front, with 70s ahead of the front. The cold front blew through Norman at around 7:30 am, and as of 4:30 pm, temperatures were in the upper 20s in central OK!!! setting the stage for frozen precipitation beginning in the early morning hours Thursday.
The WRF forecast for 12z Thursday shows a classic winter storm pattern for central OK, with a strong, closed vorticitiy maximum tracking just south of the Red River (upper left panel), a relatively intense surface low pressure center in Arkansas, and heavy precipitation falling in the deformation zone area over north TX, Oklahoma, and areas northeastward. Cold temperatures will not be a problem, with high temperatures on Thursday struggling to surpass the low 20s!!
Displayed below is the public information statement issued by the NWS in Norman notifying the area of the special briefing that was held at 3:00 pm. The NWS is forecasting 6-8 inches of snowfall over most of central and northern OK, with some locations receiving over a foot depending on the orientation of mesoscale convective bands. Thundersnow is definitely not out of the question from this winter storm. Stay tuned to TornadoVideos.net for continuous updates on this potentially dangerous winter weather situation, including video clips and pictures from the storm.
First Tornado Warning Issued at 11:19 pm
Posted At: November 14, 2006 @ 11:29 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
The first tornado warning of this potentially massive nocturnal tornado outbreak was issued 10 minutes ago at 11:19 pm for northern Polk County in western AR. This storm has a fairly large couplet on storm relative velocity, and could be producing a tornado. This this would be nearly impossible to chase with dense forest at night and no roads.
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