Midwest Update

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.

Posted by   www
on March 12, 2006, 3:02 pm
Its times like this that I wish I still lived in Kansas. I would be up there in a heart beat!!!!!!!

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Posted by   www
on March 12, 2006, 3:08 pm
Bill if you have time any thoughts on the week of the 20th through the 25th. And the threat for severe weather on the 23rd.

Thanks.

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Posted by  
on March 12, 2006, 8:00 pm
sure is quiet in here.....

try weatherplus at www.komu.com for some interesting live streaming tonite.....

hearscricketschirpinginthebackground

duckfetchr

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Posted by chloe  
on March 12, 2006, 8:15 pm
Where did the lightning come from around 8:00 p.m. (in Vestavia)? Nexrad is not up-to-date to check for small thunderstorms.

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Posted by  
on March 12, 2006, 8:23 pm
I saw it too. Out walking the dog in homewood. Just a few flashes. No thunder though

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Posted by  
on March 12, 2006, 8:19 pm
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
NORTHERN PETTIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI
NORTHWESTERN COOPER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
SOUTHERN SALINE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI

* UNTIL 845 PM CST

* AT 804 PM CST...TRAINED SPOTTERS ARE TRACKING A LARGE AND
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO NEAR KNOB NOSTER. DOPPLER IS SHOWING THIS
TORNADO MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

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