Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, February 18 to 19, 2012

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...RETRANSMITTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
254 PM EST Sat Feb 18 2012

...SEVERE STORMS EXPECTED THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

...GUSTY WINDS LIKELY BEHIND THE FRONT SUNDAY...

...HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS LIKELY FOR THE PANHANDLE
BEACHES TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

...FREQUENT GALE FORCE GUSTS EXPECTED OVER THE MARINE AREA ON
SUNDAY...

.MESOSCALE UPDATE / NEAR TERM...
Objectively drawn surface analysis in the past several hours
indicates a convectively-induced surface mesolow around 1006mb just
north of Lake Pontchartrain (near Slidell, LA). This was accompanied
by an area of focused pressure falls to the east over south Alabama
and the western Florida Panhandle. As such, a warm front is
beginning to make progress inland with mid-60s dewpoints lurking
right at the Gulf shoreline. KPAM is currently reporting a 66F
dewpoint. As focused pressure falls continue ahead of the mesolow,
surface winds are likely to shift to a more SSE-SE direction and
draw deeper moisture onshore more quickly. The surface winds are
also likely to increase, and boundary layer flow in general will
increase rapidly in the next few hours over the western part of our
area. Recent hodograph derived from the VWP at KMOB radar shows a
large cyclonically curved hodograph with a distinct kink around 500m
AGL, and 0-1km SRH as high as 650 m^2/s^2. It is likely that the
mesolow is having a major role in enhancing these values, and should
a similar low-level wind response occur further to the east this
would increase the tornado threat substantially for SE AL and west
of the Apalachicola River. Hodograph is quickly expanding at EVX
radar at the moment as well, with 0-1km SRH already up around 180
m^2/s^2. The timing mentioned earlier still looks good with storms
arriving around 23z in our western areas, and lasting through the
night as they move from west to east.

Once again, the primary threat still looks to be damaging winds with
fast storm motions and 40-45 knot flow just 1500-2000 feet AGL.
However, the tornado threat is definitely non-zero and will be
enhanced near line mesovortices and in discrete cells. The tornado
threat would likely be higher this evening if pressure falls ahead
of the mesolow continue into our western areas.

.SHORT TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT)...
Strong to severe storms will remain possible into Sunday morning as
the front works across our South Central GA and eastern FL Big Bend
zones. SPC has these areas under a slight risk for severe. After
cold frontal passage, it will get quite windy across the region on
Sunday. A look at BUFKIT profiles shows that we could get some
pretty decent gusts in the west and northwest flow behind the cold
front and we have gone ahead and pulled the trigger on a wind
advisory. We also continue to forecast some 6-foot surf along the
Panhandle coast with an associated high rip current risk. As the
surface low tracks off the Carolina coast Sunday evening, the
gradient will quickly weaken and wind gusts will drop below advisory
levels before midnight. Cooler air will arrive for Sunday night and
Monday, although temps will only drop a few degrees below normal.

.LONG TERM (TUESDAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY)...
No major weather concerns of note over the extended range of the
forecast. GFS and ECMWF models still appear to be in good agreement
through the week. Another frontal system sets up over the Gulf Coast
on Thursday. This is somewhat later than previously thought. The
forecast has been adjusted to come in line with this thinking.

&&

.MARINE (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
This will not be the best weekend for boating across the northeast
Gulf of Mexico. An area of low pressure will track from the
northwest Gulf northeast to Central AL by tonight and then off the
Carolina coast by Sunday evening. As the low passes to the north, it
will pull a strong cold frontal across the waters from late tonight
through Sunday morning. Onshore winds and seas will increase
substantially tonight and there will be a threat of strong to severe
storms ahead of the front. After frontal passage, strong westerly
winds are expected to gust to gale force with seas exceeding 10 feet
offshore. The gale watch has been upgraded to a warning for Sunday
due to these gusts. Conditions will begin to improve across the
waters Sunday night and conditions are expected to drop below
advisory levels by daybreak Monday. High pressure will move off the
Southeast U.S. coast on Tuesday. A warm front will lift across the
waters Tuesday night and Wednesday with a cold frontal passage on
Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION (THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY)...
The stratus has been a bit more stubborn to erode than previously
expected. Ceilings have generally increased into the MVFR range
through the morning hours, although TLH was still holding on to
IFR (900ft CIGS) as of 17z. With additional diurnal mixing over
the next couple hours, we are expecting MVFR ceilings to prevail
at most of the terminals through the afternoon. First major
concern is with overnight thunderstorms. We used an average of
model guidance to push things through starting around 01-03z at
DHN and ECP, to around 08-10z at VLD. Trend should be for the
thunderstorms to weaken with time, but they could be quite
organized over the western terminals - particularly ECP and DHN,
but also possibly TLH and ABY. Therefore, TEMPO groups were
inserted at those four sites with gusts generally 30-35kt. After
the front clears through, it should be a windy day tomorrow.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
A strong low pressure system will bring much needed rain to the
region tonight and early Sunday. Some locations could see as much as
2 to 3 inches of rain. Drier air will overspread the area behind the
cold front on Sunday into the first part of the week. Although it
will be breezy Sunday, there are no fire weather concerns as minimum
relative humidities are forecast to stay above critical levels. On
Monday, minimum relative humidities are forecast to drop below 35
percent across most the interior portions of north Florida but all
other fire weather parameters will not meet Red Flag criteria. There
are no other fire weather concerns at least through the remainder of
the work week.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...Northern portions of the HSA are forecast to get
widespread basin-average 2- to 3-inch rainfall totals with this
event with lesser amounts to the southeast. This would result in the
Kinchafoonee at Dawson reaching flood stage by midday Monday with a
crest just shy of moderate flood stage Wednesday afternoon.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee   61  73  39  65  44 /  80  50   0   0  10
Panama City   61  68  41  62  51 /  90  30   0   0  10
Dothan        58  65  37  62  46 / 100  30   0   0  10
Albany        58  69  37  62  43 / 100  60   0   0  10
Valdosta      61  73  39  63  44 /  70  60   0   0  10
Cross City    62  73  39  66  43 /  40  50   0   0  10
Apalachicola  63  70  41  61  48 /  70  40   0   0  10

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 10 PM CST Sunday for all zones.

GA...Wind Advisory from 10 AM to 11 PM EST Sunday for all zones.

FL...Wind Advisory from 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ to 11 PM EST /10 PM CST/
     Sunday for all zones.

     High Surf Advisory from 1 AM EST /Midnight CST/ Sunday to 1 AM
     EST /Midnight CST/ Monday for Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
     South Walton.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 4 AM Sunday to 7 AM EST Monday for
     Apalachee Bay-Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton
     Beach FL out 20 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 4 AM EST Sunday
     for Coastal waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola
     FL out to 20 NM-Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin
     FL out 20 NM-Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL
     from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from
     20 to 60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM Sunday to 7 AM EST Monday for
     Coastal waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL
     out to 20 NM-Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL
     out 20 NM-Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL
     from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from
     20 to 60 NM.

     Gale Warning from 4 AM to 9 PM EST Sunday for Coastal waters
     From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out to 20 NM-
     Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-
     Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60
     NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

Near Term/Aviation...Lamers
Fire Weather...Barry
Long Term...Lericos
Rest of Discussion...Wool

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
130 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134-
GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-191200-
COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-CENTRAL WALTON-
HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-INLAND BAY-CALHOUN-INLAND GULF-
INLAND FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON-INLAND JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY-
INLAND WAKULLA-INLAND TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-INLAND DIXIE-SOUTH WALTON-
COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-COASTAL FRANKLIN-COASTAL JEFFERSON-
COASTAL WAKULLA-COASTAL TAYLOR-COASTAL DIXIE-QUITMAN-CLAY-
RANDOLPH-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN-
EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN-SEMINOLE-
DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER-
APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE
RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
130 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012 /1230 PM CST SAT FEB 18 2012/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND
AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THE OVERNIGHT AS A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH
THE REGION. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS THAT SHOULD MOVE THROUGH MUCH OF THE AREA FROM WEST
TO EAST. TIMING APPEARS TO BE FROM AROUND 6 PM EST IN THE WESTERN
PART OF THE AREA...TO AROUND SUNRISE IN THE VICINITY OF THE
SUWANNEE RIVER VALLEY. THE LINE OF STORMS MAY HAVE A TENDENCY TO
WEAKEN WITH TIME AS IT MOVES EAST...SO THE GREATEST THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD BE OVER SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN
FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

THE MAIN THREAT WITH ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS. TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY
OVER SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY
OVER SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.

HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE BEACHES
STARTING LATE TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS AND HIGH SEAS ARE LIKELY FOR A
LARGE PORTION OF THE COASTAL WATERS STARTING LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT ON SUNDAY WITH
GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA.

FREQUENT GALE FORCE GUSTS ARE LIKELY OVER A LARGE PORTION OF THE
COASTAL WATERS ON SUNDAY WITH HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS
CONTINUING ALONG THE BEACHES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV...THEN CLICK ON YOUR AREA
OF INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL MAP.

08-LAMERS