The Friday morning map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
IOWA TORNADO OUTBREAK: Last night's tornado outbreak in Iowa was very significant; at least one person was killed and damage was widespread in places like Iowa City and around the campus of the University of Iowa. To our knowledge there were no serious injuries to any of the students at UI. As always, we will know much more within the next few hours with daylight returning.
Here is an emergency message sent to the University of Iowa community late last night by President David Skorton:
"University of Iowa President David Skorton has announced that classes are cancelled for Friday, April 14, because of safety concerns on campus and in Iowa City following the tornadoes and thunderstorms Thursday evening. President Skorton urges all faculty, staff and students to avoid the areas affected by the storms to allow emergency personnel to help those in need and take care of other related emergencies storm clean-up activities. University of Iowa students who are without shelter tonight and
tomorrow may go the Iowa Memorial Union and the Second Floor Ballroom.
The Red Cross has made mattresses available there. This shelter will be open only to UI students, who must show their ID. No one who is inebriated will be allowed in. University staff should plan to report to work as usual unless they are unable to do so because of the storm. In that case, staff members should notify their supervisor."
AROUND HERE: All of the severe weather risks will remain well to the north of here for the next few days; Alabama will stay dry and very warm through the weekend. Highs will be mostly in the 84 to 87 degree range, a good ten degrees above normal for mid-April and not far from record levels.
NEXT WEEK: This pattern will change next week as a cold upper trough forms over the high plains. That should evolve into a deep upper low over the midwest by mid-week. A surface cold front will swing from that system down through Alabama on Wednesday, and a band of showers and thunderstorms is likely. A closer look at instability and wind fields would suggest that a few strong to severe storms might be possible.
Cooler and wet weather is likely for Thursday and Friday of next week as an MCS or two move through Alabama under the upper low to the north. Highs will be back in the low to mid 70s on those days. Temperatures will likely remain a little below normal into that following weekend (April 22-23) with a cool upper trough over the eastern U.S.
LONG RANGE: The 00Z GFS is hinting at a severe weather setup at the end of the forecast period, around April 29, but that is all voodoo at this point. I do believe we will break back into a more active pattern as we get into May.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
IOWA TORNADO OUTBREAK: Last night's tornado outbreak in Iowa was very significant; at least one person was killed and damage was widespread in places like Iowa City and around the campus of the University of Iowa. To our knowledge there were no serious injuries to any of the students at UI. As always, we will know much more within the next few hours with daylight returning.
Here is an emergency message sent to the University of Iowa community late last night by President David Skorton:
"University of Iowa President David Skorton has announced that classes are cancelled for Friday, April 14, because of safety concerns on campus and in Iowa City following the tornadoes and thunderstorms Thursday evening. President Skorton urges all faculty, staff and students to avoid the areas affected by the storms to allow emergency personnel to help those in need and take care of other related emergencies storm clean-up activities. University of Iowa students who are without shelter tonight and
tomorrow may go the Iowa Memorial Union and the Second Floor Ballroom.
The Red Cross has made mattresses available there. This shelter will be open only to UI students, who must show their ID. No one who is inebriated will be allowed in. University staff should plan to report to work as usual unless they are unable to do so because of the storm. In that case, staff members should notify their supervisor."
AROUND HERE: All of the severe weather risks will remain well to the north of here for the next few days; Alabama will stay dry and very warm through the weekend. Highs will be mostly in the 84 to 87 degree range, a good ten degrees above normal for mid-April and not far from record levels.
NEXT WEEK: This pattern will change next week as a cold upper trough forms over the high plains. That should evolve into a deep upper low over the midwest by mid-week. A surface cold front will swing from that system down through Alabama on Wednesday, and a band of showers and thunderstorms is likely. A closer look at instability and wind fields would suggest that a few strong to severe storms might be possible.
Cooler and wet weather is likely for Thursday and Friday of next week as an MCS or two move through Alabama under the upper low to the north. Highs will be back in the low to mid 70s on those days. Temperatures will likely remain a little below normal into that following weekend (April 22-23) with a cool upper trough over the eastern U.S.
LONG RANGE: The 00Z GFS is hinting at a severe weather setup at the end of the forecast period, around April 29, but that is all voodoo at this point. I do believe we will break back into a more active pattern as we get into May.