TornadoVideos.net

Posted At: March 27, 2008 @ 5:40 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

A very strong cold front roared through central Oklahoma today, with temperatures reaching the 90F mark immediately south of the front due to compressional warming.  The temperature in Norman fell from around 90 degrees to the low 70s in about 30 minutes!  Severe thunderstorms have been developing along the cold front from central MO southwestward to eastern OK.  Given very weak low-level shear and marginal moisture, the tornado threat is almost zero in the watch area below.  Still though, isolated reports of damaging winds and large hail are definitely possible.


Shown below is the Oklahoma Mesonet map from around 5:30 CDT, showing the front surging southeast through eastern OK, with temperatures falling into the upper 40s in the northwest part of the state!  As daytime mixing has ceased, dewpoints have also been nearing the 60F mark at several stations in southeast OK, so the storms along the front will likely intensify through the evening as moisture increases.  Hopefully next week we'll have some chase opportunities!

Posted At: March 26, 2008 @ 9:05 PM

Posted By: Reed Timmer

A very interesting feature is apparent in this evening's radar loop from Key West, FL, with several curved bands of higher reflectivity values over the Gulf of Mexico to the west and south of the radar site.  They appear to be some kind of mesoscale convergence zones, but also could be a non-meteorological phenomenon like chaff plumes, which are clouds of aluminum-coated glass fibers released by the military to confuse enemy aircraft -- but usually for test purposes in the U.S. of course.  Any thoughts on what this might be??