Tornado Warning 41, NWS Huntsville, AL

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
545 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER TODAY...
...POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD TORNADO OUTBREAK WITH LONG-TRACK
TORNADIC SUPERCELLS TODAY...

.UPDATE...FOR 12Z TAFS.
&&

.AVIATION...
BAND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIT KHSV VCNTY BFR 12Z.  -RA/RA
WITH EMBEDDED CG LTG WL CONTINUE THRU 13-14Z BEHIND THE LINE.  A
BREAK IN THE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED BFR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS DVLP
LATER TODAY WITH A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WX.
&&

.DISCUSSION...A COMPLICATED SCENARIO EVOLVING TODAY WITH INITIAL
CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT WIND SHEAR AND INSTABILITY
LIKELY MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA BY 08-12Z THIS MORNING. THIS
ACTIVITY SHOULD RAPIDLY MOVE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
ALABAMA DURING THE MORNING HOURS.

FORECAST MODELS ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY HANDLING THE INSTABILITY,
WIND SHEAR, AND MCV'S MOVING WITHIN THE TROUGH ITSELF. HOWEVER, IT
DOES APPEAR BY CURRENT TRENDS, THAT UPPER LEVEL FORCING WILL BE
SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD CONVECTION TODAY. TURNING TO
INSTABILITY AND WIND SHEAR, THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE EXTREMELY
UNSTABLE...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT. CURVED HODOGRAPHS AND WIND SHEAR VALUES (AT TIMES
EXTREMELY HIGH) ALONG WITH INSTABILITY PARAMETERS ALL SUPPORT THE
POTENTIAL FOR A WIDESPREAD TORNADO OUTBREAK ACROSS SOUTHERN MIDDLE
TN AND NORTH ALABAMA. JUST TO GIVE FOLKS AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF
VALUES WE ARE SEEING BTWN 17-00Z:

1) SBCAPES ARE FORECAST TO BE 2500-3500 J/KG
2) 0-3KM SRH IS FORECAST TO BE 500-700 M2/S2
3) 0-3KM EHIS ARE FORECAST TO BE 4-8 M2/S2 OVER PORTIONS OF N
CENTRAL AL.
4) SFC DEWPOINTS ARE FORECAST TO BE BTWN 65-69F (POSSIBLY INTO THE
LOW 70S) DURING THE DAY.

IN ADDITION, A LLJ OF 65-75 KTS IS FORECAST TO REMAIN ACROSS THE
AREA THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE DAY. THE SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COLD FRONT WILL ALSO MOVE JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF NW AL FROM S AR
(12Z TODAY) TO CENTRAL TN BY 18-23Z MEANING THAT CELLS CLOSER TO THE
SFC LOW IN THESE CASES TENDS TO DEVELOP OR MAINTAIN TORNADIC
ACTIVITY. UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE LOCATED JUST TO THE NE OF THE TN
VALLEY IS ALSO QUITE PRONOUNCED.

THEREFORE, GIVEN ALL OF THE ABOVE INFO., IT DOES APPEAR THAT LONG
TRACK TORNADIC SUPERCELLS ARE LIKELY ACROSS THE TN VALLEY. DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE ALSO LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. THOUGH HAIL
APPEARS TO BE THE LESSOR OF THE TWO. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY EXACTLY
WHEN THE CELLS WILL DEVELOP GIVEN THIS MORNING'S CONVECTION, BUT THE
TIME PERIOD WHEN ALL OF THESE INGREDIENTS APPEAR TO COME TOGETHER
APPEARS TO BE BTWN 17Z-00Z.

AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE TN VALLEY, EXPECTING AND REMAINING
FAST-MOVING SUPERCELLS TO BE CONGEALED INTO A QLCS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND BOWING SEGMENTS TO FINISH OFF THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.
THE FROPA TIMING SHOULD BE BTWN 21-03Z ACROSS NW AL (ENTERING) AND
03-06 ACROSS NE AL (EXITING).

AS IF WE NEEDED ANY MORE THREATS...FLASH FLOODING IS ALSO QUITE
LIKELY WITH CELLS TRAINING ALONG THE SAME AREAS ALONG WITH PROLIFIC
RAINFALL PRODUCING SUPERCELLS WOULD ACT TO CAUSE A CHALLENGING
FORECAST PROBLEM. GIVEN THE RECENT RAINFALL OVER NW AL, THOSE AREAS
APPEAR TO HAVE THE HIGHEST THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING. WILL LEAVE THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN PLACE.

AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE LLJ WILL BE QUITE STRONG TODAY WHICH
MAY CAUSE INCREASED WINDS ACROSS THE AREA. THUS, WILL KEEP WIND
ADVISORY IN PLACE AS WELL.

BEHIND THE COLD FRONT CAA SHOULD QUICKLY DRY THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE
WARM AND MUGGY CONDITIONS FELT TODAY INTO COOLER AND DRY BY LATE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. DAYTIME HIGHS WILL REGISTER CLOSE TO
THE 70 DEGREE MARK FOR THURSDAY WITH SUNNY CONDITIONS ON THE
BACKSIDE OF THE TROUGH. OVERNIGHT LOWS SHOULD ALSO EXPERIENCE A DROP
INTO THE UPPER 40S TO LOW 50S ON THURSDAY NIGHT WITH DAYTIME HIGHS
RECOVERING INTO THE MID 70S BY FRIDAY WITHIN RIDGE BUILDING. THERE
MAY BE A BRIEF TIME PERIOD OF CLOUDS ON SATURDAY AS A FEW WAVES OF
ENERGY CROSS THE REGION ATOP THE RIDGE. OTHERWISE, CONDITIONS SHOULD
BE PLEASANT WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW 80S FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

BY SATURDAY, ANOTHER LONGWAVE TROUGH CROSSING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
INTO THE ROCKIES WILL APPROACH THE AREA ON SUNDAY. THE MED RANGE
MODELS ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE RIDGE
OVER THE SOUTHEAST AND THIS IS LIKELY WHY THE TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM
IS CONTINUING TO SLOW THIS SYSTEM DOWN. FOR NOW, WILL TAKE A
COMPROMISE SOLUTION AND TAKE OUT THUNDERSTORMS FOR SUNDAY AND KEEP
THEM FOR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT.
&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

&&

AVIATION...KULA
DISCUSSION...SL.77

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
324 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-271815-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
324 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHERN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE THROUGH 8 AM CDT.

THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER EASTERN MISSISSIPPI WILL BEGIN AFFECTING
NORTHWEST ALABAMA AROUND 4 AM. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE
TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ONGOING THIS MORNING...
PARTICULARLY ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA.

THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE...CREATING A VOLATILE
SITUATION ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TODAY. THE POTENTIAL FOR A
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK WILL INCREASE...ESPECIALLY FROM
THE LATE MORNING INTO THE EARLY EVENING. SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO FORM AHEAD OF...AND ALONG A STRONG COLD FRONT AND MOVE RAPIDLY
ACROSS THE REGION. A POTENTIAL FOR STRONG...LONG TRACK TORNADOES
EXISTS...IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL. RESIDENTS ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE URGED TO REMAIN
ALERT FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE
THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY EVOLVE
INTO A SMALL STREAM AND RIVER FLOODING EVENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
PLEASE REFER TO THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS
THREAT. ALSO...WINDS OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY
REACH ADVISORY CRITERIA...THEREFORE A WIND ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT
THROUGH 8 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS WEEKEND...AS
ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL
BE REQUESTED BEFORE DAYBREAK...ESPECIALLY FOR THE WESTERN HALF OF THE
AREA. ACTIVATION IS LIKELY DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA.

RSB/DD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
451 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0424 AM     TORNADO          4 W OAKLAND             34.83N 87.87W
04/27/2011                   LAUDERDALE         AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO CONFIRMED ON THE GROUND NEAR A CHURCH CLOSE TO
            THE INTERSECTION OF CR 189 AND CR 62.

&&

KWEBER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
502 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0406 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CHEROKEE                34.76N 87.97W
04/27/2011                   COLBERT            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AT CHEROKEE. POSSIBLE TORNADO
            DAMAGE.

&&

KWEBER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
512 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0455 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 SE LEXINGTON          34.93N 87.32W
04/27/2011  E60.00 MPH       LAUDERDALE         AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            A 60 MPH GUST WAS REPORTED

&&

KWEBER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
519 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0435 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 S TUSCUMBIA           34.65N 87.69W
04/27/2011  E70.00 MPH       COLBERT            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            A WIND GUST TO 70 MPH WAS REPORTED ALONG WITH POWER
            OUTAGES.

&&

KWEBER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
536 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0521 AM     HAIL             ATHENS                  34.80N 86.97W
04/27/2011  E0.25 INCH       LIMESTONE          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED.

&&

KWEBER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
552 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0502 AM     TSTM WND DMG     N MT HOPE               34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN IN THE MOUNT HOPE COMMUNITY.

&&

KWEBER