UPDATE

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

THERE IS ALREADY NEW INFORMATION, WILMINGTON IS NOW ALERTING THE AREA OF A TORNADO OUTBREAK. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER THIS AFTERNOON. TIMING ON THE SUPER CELLS IS 2-6PM AND THE LINE OF STORMS FROM 6-10PM. THE STORMS WILL BE MOVING VERY QUICKLY AS WELL (50-60MPH)

URL TO THE NWS IN WILMINGTON WEBSITE:

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/

EXTREME Threat

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO TODAYS SEVERE WEATHER

THERE IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER TODAY INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES. THIS IS A VERY RARE SITUATION FOR ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY RARE TO HAVE THIS HIGH OF A THREAT IN MID-NOVEMBER THIS FAR NORTH. WE WILL SEE SUPER CELLS AND A LINE OF STORMS COME THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS SHOULD BE TREATED AS TORNADO WARNINGS AS TORNADOES MAY SPIN UP VERY QUICKLY ALONG THE LINE OF STORMS. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER LATER TODAY AND PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RADAR AND ALERTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORNADO WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN ILLINOIS AND IT IS STILL VERY EARLY IN THE DAY.

A WIND ADVISORY IS STILL IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT FOR HIGH WIND GUSTS OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORM. IN THUNDERSTORMS WINDS COULD APPROACH 75-85MPH!

I WILL UPDATE THINGS AS MORE INFORMATION COMES IN. PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH FRIENDS. THE THREAT IS IMPACTING ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, KENTUCKY AND OHIO!

Severe Weather Threat

Pay Attention Sunday

There is a very heightened risk for severe weather in our area on Sunday. The main line of storms will move through between 7:00pm-10:00pm Sunday night and evening. The SPC has placed us under a moderate risk which is usually reserved for some of the most volatile situations. There is a very real threat for some destructive storms on Sunday and you should defiantly pay attention.

MAIN THREATS
-Destructive, tornado-like strait-line winds
-Spin up tornadoes as the line moves through and isolated tornadoes in front of the line
-hail in discrete cells
-Heavy rain (1-3")


This is the first time I can remember seeing a moderate risk being issued in November. This is very rare and could be even stronger than the line that came through on Halloween night. Be prepared for power outages and possible damage to homes and trees. This is defiantly not something that should be taken lightly!

Significant Storm for Halloween

There will be a very strong storm system that will move in here just in time for Halloween. This storm will bring high winds, heavy rain and even a severe weather threat. The winds will begin to increase tomorrow during the afternoon and could gust upwards of 30-40mph. The rain should move in around mid-morning and continue on and off for rest of the day. It will really pick up in intensity around 4pm along with increaseing wind gusts upwards of 45-55mph. These winds could last for 12 hours and if thundstorm develope, then they could be around 55-70mph. Winds of this magnitude can do damage to trees and power lines. Thunderstorms are expected in two waves tomorrow, the first between 4-6pm and the second around midnight. These storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and even an isolated tornado. I will try to update the situation as more information becomes available. I will also post any alerts that are issued. 

What is My Blog used for?

     I thought I would take the time today to explain to everybody what my blog will be used for from now on. As you probably know, I often go without posting for extended periods of time, this is because my main goal for this blog was for it  to be used for significant weather events only. It has been 10 months since I started my blog and since then I have received nearly 1,600 page views from 8 different countries! (and no that does not include my own :)  I would like to try doubling that number over the next year! I would like to continue focusing on significant weather events only, this is because it would be too time consuming to update the weather every day. Some things that I would consider significant include severe storms, winter storms, ice storms, high wind events, heavy rain events over 3", the first and last freeze in the fall and spring, blizzards and extremes in temperature. Also, this past summer I finally got a Twitter and plan to send out weather information through that and Facebook as well. 

     This will be my last post until a significant weather event is imminent or potential for one exists, but I thought just for fun I would tell you what the farmers almanac is saying for the upcoming winter! According to them, we will have a winter "full of snow with piercing cold". Keep in mind that this is a forecast that was issued last week and winter is still more than 3 months away, as you know meteorologists have trouble with forecasting a week in advance! So, by no stretch of the imagination am I saying this will happen, but we can certainly hope that it does!! :) 

TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED

TORNADO WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT

       THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR OUR AREA UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR OUR AREA. HAZARDS INCLUDE 80MPH WINDS, 2" DIAMETER HAIL AND SEVERAL TORNADOES WITH SOME INTENSE TORNADOES. THIS IS AVERY SERIOUS SITUATION!! A WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING TORNADOES. EVEN THOUGH A STORM IS NOT IMMINENT, REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND MONITOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!

Severe Weather Still Likely

      Another PDS WATCH has been issued, this time it's close to home!! The SPC has issued a PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 2am. This watch stretches all the way from Southwestern Wisconsin to just west of Columbus. The timing is looking like it is going to be a little different than before, but that does not change the fact that it is going to be a very dangerous situation. Power outages, heavy rain, frequent lightning, large hail, destructive winds and isolated tornadoes are still a very real threat tonight. 11pm-4am is looking like the worst time for the event. However, there is still the potential for scattered storms to develop before that time. Any storms that develop this evening will have the chance to become severe (60mph winds and 1" diameter hail) very quickly.

        AEP is saying that power outages are likely and the duration could be significant. One good thing about this year is that if you do end up losing power it will not be as hot as it was last year following the storms (Highs only in the 70's). 

This is the PDS Watch issued by the SPC. Hazards include---Damaging Winds to 80mph, Very Large Hail to 2" in Diameter and a Few Isolated Tornadoes

Severe Weather Starting

A PDS (PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION) TORNADO WATCH has been issued for parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Even though this is not in effect for us here in Ohio, it is important because this type of watch is very rare, it signifies the potential for rapid development of destructive storms that can have very large hail, damaging wind and large tornadoes. If a line of storms does end up developing, this is where it will come from, making this watch even more important because what develops out west will move east later today and tonight.

Severe Weather Update

Likelihood Increasing

        The likelihood of a significant severe weather outbreak is increasing today!! The Storm Prediction Center has informed us that they will be updating the risk area to HIGH RISK for parts of Eastern Iowa, Northern Illinois, Northern Indiana and Northwestern Ohio. This may not include Central Ohio at the moment but this is a very significant increase  and a sign that the SPC has increased confidence in the event. I would not be surprised to see the HIGH RISK expanded later on today to include Central Ohio as we will become extremely unstable.

         To put this in perspective, this is the first time all year that the SPC has issued a HIGH RISK category. This will be a wind driven HIGH RISK meaning that the main threat will be damaging and destructive winds (possibly as high as 80-90mph), however, large tornadoes will be possible, mainly in Illinois, and very large hail will also be possible, though not as likely.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND COULD IMPACT OUR AREA BY LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. FLASH FLOODING, HIGH WINDS, LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT! PLEASE STAY UP TO DATE BY VISITING WEATHER.GOV or SPC.NOAA.GOV.  

Timing

        The severe line of storms will likely be here in Central Ohio around the evening rush and will continue with heavy rain through the night and into early Thursday morning.

Lightning will be abundant with these storms and will pose a serious threat. It is important to remember that lightning can kill you and should be taken seriously. And remember IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING!!!

Significant Severe Weather

SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK

         If you think back to last year at the end of June the damaging thunderstorms that knocked out power for days, and even weeks for some, may come to mind. A scenario that is very similar to last year is looking increasingly likely for tomorrow, Wednesday June 12. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK has placed us under a day 2 moderate risk. These types of risk levels are reserved for the most threatening situations and should not be taken lightly. Not only are we under the moderate risk, but we are also in what is known as the hatched area, this means we are at an increased risk for significant severe weather (Winds >75mph, Hail >2" in diameter and strong Tornadoes). However, the main threats will be damaging winds and large hail, but a tornado cannot be ruled out.

       Tomorrow the atmosphere will become extremely unstable with dew points in the low 70s and temperatures in the low 90's(In other words it will be hot and sticky!). Thunderstorm development could be explosive and the weather could change rapidly. You should keep up on the watches and warnings tomorrow as they are issued. The treat area includes almost all of the same areas impacted last year, all the way from South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This has the potential to bring significant and widespread damaging wind to all of these areas. If you lost power last time and bought a generator, I would make sure it is able to run and in working order. :)

       As the atmosphere destabilizes tomorrow, some supercell storms are possible and then the potentially destructive line of storms will come through here Wednesday night into Thursday morning. These storms are also known for the very heavy rain they produce, so flash flooding will be another severe threat we will have to add to the list tomorrow night as the storms move in.

      I will try to keep you updated as the situation unfolds tomorrow, but as you can imagine i will be busy tracking it :) and if I lose power i will not be able to post!! Stay safe and stay up to date!