Sinking air from collapsing evening thunderstorms in Oklahoma warmed as it reached the surface, causing a massive heat burst on this date in 1996. The heat burst, with its dramatic increases in temperature and severe straight line winds spread across much of southwestern and central Oklahoma during a six hour period.

The affected area was up to 150 miles wide and affected twelve counties. The Oklahoma Mesonet showed early morning temperatures that rose from the 80s and into the upper 90s and low 100s in some places. Some maximum temperatures between 11 pm and 3 am were: 98 degrees in Norman, 99 degrees in Washington, 102 degrees in Chickasha, 101 degrees at Fort Cobb, 100 degrees at Hobart, and 105 degrees in Ninnekah. Wind speeds in excess of 70 mph were measured throughout southwest Oklahoma and in parts of central and south-central Oklahoma.

The resulting damage was devastating across parts of southwest Oklahoma, particularly in the Lawton and Marlow areas. An estimated ninety percent of houses and outbuildings in eastern Comanche and western Stephens Counties sustained damage. Power outages lasted anywhere from a few minutes to nearly three days in parts of Lawton. Over 27,000 customers were without power at one time. Downed power lines sparked grass fires throughout the region. Total damage estimates exceeded $18 million.

As Yogi Berra says, "It looks like deva vu all over again."

Almost exactly like yesterday...the Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for five counties in extreme North Alabama...

Included in the watch area are:
DEKALB... JACKSON... LAUDERDALE... LIMESTONE... MADISON

The watch is valid until 10 p.m. CDT.

Thunderstorms are beginning to fire and are expected to intensify south of a stationary boundary over southern Tennessee. They will move east and southeast and may affect the extreme northern counties of the state. The biggest threat will be from large hail and damaging winds.

The Sunday map discussion video is on the server at:

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

Had a great time yesterday at Do Dah Day and at the community awareness event in Hokes Bluff. I just love getting out and talking with people about my favorite topic, the weather. Got another outing today with a talk at the Alabaster Library plus a visit to Montevallo Elementary School on Monday. My schedule is beginning to look a lot like the one Mr. Spann maintains.

Weather-wise we're going to be in a rather mushed out pattern for the next week. We'll be dealing with a weak boundary for the next couple of days that is lingering around North Alabama and Tennessee. That boundary was the focus for rain and some thunderstorms yesterday and is expected to be the focus again today.

By mid-week that boundary washes out but another one approaches. The main upper level support for the mid-week cold front will be well north of Alabama but with a fairly warm and humid air mass in place, we've begun that redundant forecast of mentioning a small possiblity of showers each day. Looks like the possiblity of showers is a bit higher on Wednesday and Thursday.

Interesting to see reports of tornadoes in the extreme northwest United States. No state in the US is immune from tornadoes, but the western section of the country has many fewer tornadoes that the eastern two-thirds of the country.

Hope your weekend continues to be a good one. Headed off to church and usher duties today.

-Brian-

The thunderstorms over Tennessee tonight have given me a reason to stay up late and indulge in reading Douglas Brinkley's masterpiece, "The Great Deulge." The book arrived on Friday and I have been mesmerized ever since, reading the historian's behind the scenes account of Hurricane Katrina.

It is ironic to read of the total ineptness of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin during the storm on the night that he won re-election. Hopefully, the lessons learned will help prepare him for the next "Big One." Hopefully, there won't be another "Big One" for awhile.

But the storms over Tennessee seem to be slowly weakening early this morning. Even as I write that, they seem to flare just a bit as they cross I-65 near Columbia, Tennessee. They will probably hold together enough to brush the Tennessee boreder counties of North Alabama. They may produce torrential rains, lightning, gusty winds and even some small hail, but significant severe weather is not expected.

Power was reported out across western Lewis County in Central Tennessee. A severe thunderstorm warning continued for Coffee and Grundy Counties.

The severe thunderstorm watch continues until 2 a.m. CDT for the Northeast part of Alabama. No word from the NWS on whether a new watch will be issued.

One thing to note. This thunderstorm complex will lay down a boundary across North Alabama from about Huntsville over to Fort Payne that may be important in storm formation later today.

The earlier severe storm that had the impressive hail indications has weakened considerably as it moved into eastern Lauderdale and western Limestone County.

Behind it, a large thunderstorm complex is diving southeastward. The complex is 80 miles long from side to side.

It will affect the Tennessee valley of North Alabama later if it does not weaken as these earlier storms have as they moved out of Tennessee. It should stay north of Cullman and Etowah Counties.

Two severe thunderstorm watches continue early this morning for the Tennessee Valley.