[wxqc] OT: High Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Today

[Dave Helms]

Hi Folks,

Spring is here (meteorologically speaking)... today is a rare "high 
risk" day for severe thunderstorms.  Listen to media and NOAA weather 
radio for details!

Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Day 1 (today) Outlook Graphic:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Current SPC Watches:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/

SPC Day 1 (today) Outlook Narrative:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/pwo.html

  ZCZC SPCPWOSPC ALL
   WOUS40 KWNS 010834
   ALZ000-MSZ000-011630-
   
   PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK  
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0234 AM CST THU MAR 01 2007
   
   ...A MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS LIKELY ACROSS THE LOWER OHIO
   VALLEY...LOWER AND MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...EASTWARD ACROSS THE 
   GULF AND SOUTH ATLANTIC COASTAL STATES.
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS ALSO FORECASTING THE
   DEVELOPMENT OF A TORNADOES...SOME WHICH MAY BE STRONG AND LONG
   TRACKED...ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. THIS
   AREA IS IN A HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
   
   THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
   
          ALABAMA
          EASTERN MISSISSIPPI
   
   SURROUNDING THE HIGH RISK AREA...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
   THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE LOWER HALF OF THE MISSISSIPPI
   VALLEY AND GULF/SOUTH ATLANTIC COASTAL STATES.
   
   A POWERFUL UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD FROM THE MID
   MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY THE NEXT
   24 HOURS. A COLD FRONT WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SYSTEM...ALONG WITH VERY
   STRONG JET LEVEL WINDS. AT THE SAME TIME...STRENGTHENING SOUTHERLY
   WINDS ARE RAPIDLY TRANSPORTING MOISTURE NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE
   FRONT. SEVERE STORMS ARE ALREADY ONGOING THIS MORNING ACROSS
   PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS...AND WITH DAYTIME
   HEATING...THE COVERAGE OF SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
   
   THE MOST INTENSE STORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM LATE MORNING AND INTO THE
   AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS EASTERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. THESE STORMS
   WILL BE IN A VERY FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT STORMS TO ROTATE AND SPAWN
   LONG TRACKED...STRONG TORNADOES.
   
   STRONG TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE LATER TODAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF
   TENNESSEE AND GEORGIA....WHILE WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND ISOLATED
   TORNADOES ARE LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY.
   
   THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THOSE IN THE
   THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND
   TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
   POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.
   
   ..IMY.. 03/01/2007
   

Please monitor NOAA Weather Radio broacasts for Warnings issued for your 
community.  If you encounter severe weather, and can safely do so, 
please report hail, funnel clouds, tornado, and wind damage to your 
local NOAA/NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO).  WFOs are providing 
Skywarn training right now; sign-up through their web page for the next 
"spotter" course in your community.

Remember the NWS flood safety slogan, "Turn around, don't drown!" when 
you encounter water covering roads.  It only takes a few inches of water 
to move a vehicle off the road.


Dave
CW0351