Monday, April 9, 2012

Today is Day One of Several Severe Weather Events in the Plains this Week...


Above is the latest severe weather outlook for today from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK. Severe thunderstorms are forecast within the yellow shaded area on the image.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast to break out along and ahead of a surface dryline, near an area of low pressure over northwest Oklahoma and/or adjacent portions of the Oklahoma/Kansas border by late afternoon.  Once developed, storms will move toward the Southeast with large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes possible.

The highest risk of very large hail is within the red shaded area on the image below.  Within the black hatched area on the same image, there is a high chance that hailstones will exceed 2 inches in diameter:


The area with the highest risk of very large hail includes the cities of  Lawton, Altus, Hobart, Elk City, Weatherford, El Reno, Woodward, Childress and Wichita Falls.

The highest risk of damaging wind gusts will be within the red shaded areas on this image, which includes the cities of Lawton, Altus, Hobart, Elk City, Weatherford, El Reno, Childress and Wichita Falls:


Any severe thunderstorm that becomes well organized and is able to remain "discrete" will have the potential to produce a tornado.  This risk appears highest at this time within the brown shaded area on this image, which includes the cities of Woodward, Lawton, Altus, Hobart, Elk City, Weatherford and El Reno:


Later this evening, some of this activity may congeal into one or more clusters of thunderstorms that will continue Southeastward into the nighttime hours.  The primary severe weather threat by that time will be large hail and strong, possibly damaging winds.

If you live across the above indicated areas, please remain alert this afternoon and evening.  Take the time now to review severe weather safety and preparedness tips and be sure to identify your best sheltering option before severe weather threatens your area.



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