WeatherNotions

Hello and happy Tuesday everyone. Active weather pattern setting up this week across the country with two BIG storms setting up on either coast today. The first system is east of the Mississippi Valley, spreading copious amounts of rain from the Lower Mississippi Valley northeastward into the New England states through tomorrow. Take a look at the radar from earlier today in the southeast, notice the red box over the Florida panhandle:

This is a Tornado Watch in effect until 6PM EDT. The low developing in the Gulf is adding some rotation to the lower levels of the atmosphere, which may translate in funnel clouds and tornadoes. Here is what to expect:

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 0.5 INCH IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
   GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
   AREAS.

   THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 105 STATUTE
   MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF
   MARIANNA FLORIDA TO 35 MILES WEST OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA.  FOR A
   COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
   UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

   REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
   TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

   DISCUSSION...TSTMS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING IN
   MOIST...STRONGLY-SHEARED LOW LVL WAA ZONE ALONG CONFLUENCE AXIS OVER
   THE NERN GULF OF MEXICO AS REGION IN GLANCED BY RED RVR VLY
   SHORTWAVE IMPULSE /REF MCD 2140/.  POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR SCTD
   STORMS WITH LOW LVL ROTATION AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES AS W/E FRONT NOW
   ALONG THE CST OF THE FL PANHANDLE MOVES SLOWLY NWD.

   AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
   SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 0.5 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
   WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
   450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 20030.

Thunderstorms have a unique way of concentrating moisture in the atmosphere into a rather small column, which has been the case in the south over the past 24 to 48 hours. Some spots in the Lower Mississippi Valley have already seen 3″ of rain and additional heavy dose may come today, take a look:

Monster Storm in the West

Note the colors in the western half of the country. A slew of watches and warnings, ranging from Winter Storm Warnings to High Wind Warnings to Red Flag Warnings. Biggest threats include: Snows of 1′ to 2′ feet may be possible in the higher elevations of the Rockies; Winds of 60mph to 70mph; Blowing dust and wild fire danger.

Temperatures will drop significantly, 20 to 30 degrees, behind the front and as far south as Arizona. Tucson, AZ is likely to see a Record Cold High Temperature on Wednesday along with many other locations in the Tucson viewing area.

Heavy rains, and storms will spread into the Plains by Thursday, some of which may be severe Thursday and Friday in the lower Mississippi Valley. Good news for Trick or Treaters, this storm will wrap up and scoot east, with only lingering showers. Widespread showers, storms and snowfall is not expected to damper any fright night festivities. However, we’ll keep you posted in the event things begin to sour…

That’s it for now, make sure to check back in tomorrow for the latest and greatest weather tibits and factiods. We’ll try to keep it interesting enough for you to want to see what’s cooking. Have a good Tuesday

Meteorologist Todd Nelson

WeatherNation