Late Morning Thoughts

Many damage reports continue to roll in from south Mississippi... here are some from NWS Jackson:

nwsjanco (10:35:36 AM): Tornado reported by Smith county EMA in Mize...that is going to be a bad one. 95 knot gate to gate cyclonic convergent signature. Strong tornado on the ground.
nwsjanco (10:38:27 AM): Working on TOR downstream of that cell Jasper/Newton. Lots of lightning with it...lots of positive strikes. Look out downstream!!!
nwsjanco (10:39:27 AM): Really worried about what probably just happened in Mize...keeping our fingers crossed.
nwsjanco (10:41:45 AM): just got a report of damage in Mize
nwsjanco (10:41:52 AM): damage supposedly to a school
nwsjanco (10:42:54 AM): New tornado watch coming out for rest of County Warning Area, NORTHWEST of current watches including SE AR, NE LA, NW MS. Not sure how far north just yet.
meast3 (10:43:23 AM): thanks for the heads up
nwsjanco (10:47:56 AM): Circulation coming up in Holmes rapidly...going TOR now.
nwsjanco (10:49:20 AM): Mize High School evacuated...damage from tornado broke a gas main. No reports of injuries and roof was taken off of school.
nwsjanco (10:49:48 AM): Tornado watch until 7 pm Northwest of current watches.
nwsjanco (10:51:35 AM): Tornadic Supercell in SE Smith appears to be cycling...possible occluding portion with new Meso just to the SE of it. Lightning still intense.

THE ALABAMA SITUATION: We remain in stable air, with no surface based instability here. The warm front runs from near Starkville, MS, to Jackson, AL, to Pensacola, FL. The unstable air is south of the front... with dewpoints up into the mid 60s.

Will the warm front move north of us later today? It is possible, but with the large rain area over northwest Alabama it will be difficult. But, not impossible. I still think heavy rain is the greatest threat north of I-20. Parts of Lamar and Fayette counties have already received over two inches of rain, based on NEXRAD estimates.

A new tornado watch is coming out now for parts of southwest Alabama...
Posted by  
on April 6, 2005, 10:40 am
Hello. I would very much appreciate any advice on this afternoon/evening weather for a trip I will be making. I have myself, two sisters (one of which is handicapped) and a mother who has a stomach "bug". We will be heading out after a dr.'s appt. at 4pm on I-20 straight for Columbia, SC or Fort Jackson for a family day tomorrow and graduation on Friday. Could anyone please give me some better specifics on what we will be driving in this evening and facing tomorrow and Friday in SC. I live in Jacksonville (close to Jax State University). Thank you.

Reply to this comment
Posted by  
on April 6, 2005, 10:53 am
It looks extremely busy right now in S and SE Mississippi. 10 counties under a Tornado Warning!
We really could be in for some bad weather if we get the right elements in place between now and 03:00pm. SPC has a moderate risk area in place over southern MS, and SW AL. I guess we'll have to wait and see if the risk is drawn into Central AL, as time passes...

Reply to this comment
Posted by  
on April 6, 2005, 11:27 am
Is there a link that I can go to that contains the information listed above by James from the NWS office in Jackson?

Reply to this comment