Saturday, June 18, 2011

Severe Weather Update

Severe thunderstorms are ongoing across 3 specific areas as of this update.  First along a dryline across southcentral Oklahoma into northwest Texas:


Second, a severe thunderstorm complex continues to roll into the Southeast U.S.  This is the same system (at least in part) that originated well to the northwest overnight and early this morning:


Thirdly, strong to severe storms have developed across the Nebraska panhandle into eastern Colorado:


Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats in the above areas, and the blue outlined regions that overlay the radar images are Severe Thunderstorm Watches that are currently in effect.

What is likely to be the most active severe weather of the day (and/or night) has yet to develop, but is starting to take shape across the Central U.S.  Taking a look at the latest visible satellite image below, you can see a field of cumulus clouds starting to grow from southcentral & southeast Kansas into southern Missouri and along adjacent portions of the Oklahoma & Arkansas borders:


Thunderstorms are likely to develop across this region during the next couple of hours, and will rapidly become severe.  Large hail & damaging winds will be the primary threats from this activity (although an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out during the first few hours of development).  By mid to late evening, the activity may develop sufficiently to pose a threat of widespread damaging winds across parts of this area, as well as downstream to the East and/or Southeast of this region.

If you live in any of the above areas, including the region in Kansas & Missouri where thunderstorms have yet to form but are expected later this evening, please remain alert and be prepared to seek shelter if threatening weather approaches your area.

2 comments:

Anthill_Goddess said...

We're not under the gun today (for once!) but as someone who lives in South-Central Iowa I have to ask...is this pattern going to change any time soon? I'm getting REALLY tired of rain! LOL

Rob White said...

You're tired of it, and we are begging for it here in Texas! Such is the way of the weather...

You'll still have some rain to deal with this coming week, but the heaviest may fall to your East and South.

We'll finally hopefully be getting in on some of that action as well, at least in some parts of Texas!