Midday Severe Weather Update

A major tornado & severe thunderstorm outbreak continues to be forecast for this afternoon, evening & tonight across portions of the Deep South, the Tennessee Valley and the southern Appalachians.

The above image shows the latest edition (updated at 11:30 AM CDT) of the severe weather outlook from the SPC in Norman, OK.  A "High Risk" of severe thunderstorms (including possible long tracked and damaging tornadoes) continues to be forecast for the pink shaded areas on the image above.  An enhanced risk of the same is forecast for the areas shaded in red.

The higher two categories of risk for severe thunderstorms & damaging tornadoes includes the cities of:  Jackson, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Nashville, Atlanta, Bowling Green and Louisville.

Severe thunderstorms are already underway across Western portions of the outlook areas.  Tornado Watches are in effect currently for the areas in red on the image below:

The southern-most Tornado Watch (for Mississippi and parts of extreme northeast Louisiana) contains the enhanced wording "This Is a Particularly Dangerous Situation with the Possibility of Very Damaging Tornadoes..."  This watch is in effect until 7pm CDT.

Vigorous severe thunderstorm development is likely across Mississippi this afternoon.  Very large hail, damaging tornadoes and high winds can be expected from this activity.  Both newly developed and ongoing severe thunderstorm activity will continue to move and develop East/Northeastward across the enhanced & high risk areas throughout the remainder of the afternoon and evening hours.

If you live in any of the areas outlined in red or pink in the top image, please keep abreast of the weather this afternoon & be prepared to seek shelter if threatening weather approaches your area.