The Blizzard of ‘93 is already folklore in Alabama—an event that will never be forgotten. Today, however, let’s discuss some other March snow events in Alabama.

While snow is unusual in March, it may not be as unusual as you think.

On March 24, 1983, moderate to heavy snow fell in parts of Central and North Alabama in the wee morning hours. At daybreak there was 5 inches on the ground at Lafayette, 3 inches at Clanton and Sylacauga and 2 inches in Birmingham and Valley Head.

On March 21, 1915, nearly 3 inches of snow fell on Birmingham—one day before the official arrival of spring. It quickly melted when afternoon temperatures reached 48.

A more widespread snowstorm came to Alabama on March 13, 1924. A heavy wet snow covered a large part of North and Central Alabama. The snow clung to everything and caused lots of damage. There were major interruptions in communications. It was probably the most damage ever in March from a snow or ice storm until the Blizzard of ‘93.

In that 1924 storm, Birmingham got 6.5 inches of snow—all of it falling in less than 12 hours. At that time, way back in 1924, Birmingham had 50 long distance telephone circuits and 45 of them were crippled. Western Union reported all telegraph lines were down except one to New Orleans. The Birmingham Weather Office was cut off from everybody.

At Greensboro in Hale County, there was the unusual sight of mockingbirds and robins hopping about in the heavy snow. Greensboro and Talladega got 6 inches, Clanton 4 inches and Anniston 5 inches.

On March 24, 1983, a 2-inch snow fell in Birmingham—the latest measurable on record.

Did you notice that all of these snow events in this story occurred in the latter half of March except the one on March 13?

So, what does all of this mean? It means we cannot absolutely rule out a risk of snow until deep into March. This is no hint that we are looking for one later this month. No indications of that right now.

Life goes on--snow or no snow.

The central part of the United States was being pounded this evening by a significant severe weather outbreak. Radar just before 8 pm CST showed a line of discrete thunderstorms, most likely supercells, from northern Illinois across southeast Iowa then into north central Missouri and southwestward into northeast Oklahoma. One monstrous supercell was moving across central Illinois out ahead of the line. Numerous tornado warnings were in effect along with many, many severe thunderstorm warnings.

At 8 pm, SPC showed 18 tornado reports, 31 damaging wind reports, and 207 hail reports. Three-inch hail was reported 6 miles southwest of Chanute in Wilson County, KS, and softball size hail in Prescott in Linn County, KS. Many of the hail reports were in the range from golf ball to baseball size.

Fortunately there don't appear to be any reports of deaths or injuries yet, however, now that darkness has fallen, it won't be easy to see a tornado coming.

At this writing tornado watches were in effect for portions of Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.

Spring, at least meteorological spring, has sure gotten off to one heck of BANG!!

-Brian-

Severe weather is ongoing across the Midwest early this afternoon.

Storm chaser Aaron Blaser reported that the tornadic storm that passed through Lawrence, Kansas passed within one mile of his house earlier this morning. The interesting fact was that the storm was 100 miles north of the warm front. Normally, you would expect the severe storms to be right along the warm front.

A PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch is in effect now for most of Missouri, eastern Kansas and western Illinois.

The Storm Prediction Center maintains a High Risk outlook across eastern Kansas, much of Missouri, southeastern Iowa and western Illinois. A Moderate Risk covers the rest of the area bounded by Chicago to Cincinnati to Cape Girardeau to Memphis to Texarkana to the SE Corner of Nebraska and back to Chicago.

As of 12:30, there had been 5 tornado reports across the area, plus a possible tornado at Reno in Leavenworth County, Kansas, where debris was reportedly falling from the sky. There have been numerous reports of large hail and wind damage across the area from southeastern Nebraska across northeastern Kansas into northern Missouri.

Storms are intensifying over southeastern Kansas. Topeka just issued a Tornado Warning for the area southeast of Emporia for a supercell storm that shows evidence of rotation. This activity is right near the triple point, or boundary between the dry line and warm front. This activity will be the most dangerous as it lifts into Missouri and eventually into Illinois.

A new tornado watch has just been issued for parts of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri for activity that is beginning to develop along the dry line over northeastern Oklahoma.

A new watch may be issued shortly for parts of Iowa as the storms in northern Missouri that are north of the warm front lift northward.

The new Day Two Convective Outlook has upgraded the area from southeastern Indiana, much of Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Central and eastern Kentucky to a Moderate Risk for tomorrow. We are still in a Slight Risk area. The Storm Prediction Center predicts that sufficient shear and instability will be in place into the Deep South with damaging winds and hail the greatest threat.

All Alabamians will want to pay close attention to later forecasts this afternoon, tonight and on Monday and stay close to a reliable source of weather information tomorrow. Be able to hear watches and warnings and review your severe weather safety plan so that you can react immediately in case severe weather approaches your location.

The Sunday map discussion video is on the server at:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

It is going to be a busy day for meteorologists in the central US today with parameters coming together for a potentially significant tornado outbreak. Watches are already in place and I'm certain we'll see many more of those along with numerous warnings as the day goes on. But back in Alabama, we're expecting another warm day as afternoon high temperatures reach the lower 80s. And dew points remain in the lower and mid 60s, so our air mass is conditionally unstable. We might see a shower or two in the afternoon, but there is nothing besides afternoon heating to help kick off showers, so we should remain essentially dry.

The action for us looks like it will come Monday afternoon and evening as the low pressure system moving through the central US today reaches the Great Lakes area and drags a cold front through Alabama. We'll remain very moist but with the best dynamics well to our north, but severe thunderstorms are a real possibility from Alabama and Mississippi all the way to the New England States.

The cold front ushers in cooler and drier air for Tuesday. As the high settles over the Southeast, we should see a good radiational cooling night Tuesday night with Wednesday morning lows in the mid 30s.

A short wave in the northwest flow on Thursday will bring another shot of precipitation, but this does not appear to be a severe weather maker. The Gulf opens once again but the overall dynamics don't seem to be strong enough for a severe weather threat.

Our weather dries out once again on Friday and Saturday with another cool morning Saturday. Saturday should be a great day with highs in the upper 60s. Another chance of rain comes on Sunday.

ALERT, the Alabama Emergency Response Team, the amateur radio operators who work at the NWS office at the Shelby County Airport during severe weather communicating with storm spotters will be holding their regular monthly meeting this coming Tuesday at 7 pm at the Bluff Park Community Center. If you are an amateur radio operator interested in emergency communications, you are invited to come to the meeting and see what ALERT is all about.

Hope your Sunday is a good one with a great upcoming week. Stay weather-wise.

-Brian-

Here is a look at the high risk of severe storms for today, as noted in Bill Murray's post below this one:



Looks like a very busy day for our friends in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Little Rock.

A significant tornado outbreak could occur today across Arkansas, Missouri, southeastern Iowa, much of Illinois and Indiana and western Kentucky and northwesern Tennessee...

The Storm Prediction Center has actually issued a High Risk Outlook for portions of this area today and a Moderate Risk for the rest of that area.

Thunderstorms are ongoing this morning from southeastern Missouri through the Ohio RIver Valley to Ohio and Pennsylvania. Flash flooding is occurring across several counties through this area early this morning.

Our first surface low is moving into Michigan, leaving a frontal boundary strung back to Oklahoma. This front will come back north as a warm front today as another surface low moves out onto the Plains.

Storms will begin to develop and intensify by late morning along the warm front over Kansas into Missouri and eventually into Southeast Iowa. An expansive area of instability, especially just south of the warm front, will be available to storms. This activity will shift into Illinois by this evening.

Wind shear will be very high, with even the thought that it could be too high. Look for big tornadoes today over northern Missouri and southeast Iowa where helicity values will be extreme.

Additional storms will fire along the dryline today from eastern Kansas down into eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas. More tornadoes can be expected from this activity, which will move over into Arkansas later.

Finally, supercells could form throughout the warm sector today, perhaps as far south as North Mississippi. Most of the paramteres are in place. It will be a big severe weather day.

Here in Alabama, we should stay high and dry with a warm, conditionally unstable airmass, but nothing to spark storms except for daytime heating. Don't be surprised to see a few small cells pop up like yesterday, but rain chances will be small for us.

Tomorrow will be a different story. As the trough and cold front approaches us, thunderstorms will develop during the day. These storms will have the potential to be supercells with their attendant problems, such as large hail, downburst winds and tornadoes. The SPC has much of Alabama included in a Slight Risk for severe weather Monday.

At least 16 reports of tornadoes were received overnight from northwestern Arkansas to southern Indiana. One of the most significant reports came from St. Mary in Perry County, Missouriwere numerous injuries were reported with people still trapped in mobile homes... It occurred about 9:44 p.m.