Your Hometown Weather: February 4, 2013: A few showers on Monday and Thursday

February 4-6, 2013

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Good Monday morning everyone! I have switch the blog up just a little bit. I am going to try and give you all of your weather tracking tools at the bottom three quarters of the page. The top quarter of the page will be my current thoughts and comments concerning what I am seeing on the models and the latest data.

There will be a chance for showers on Monday in the area. Not expecting much in the way of rainfall accumulation. Less than 0.25" - for those who pick up a shower. The showers should come to an end by Monday evening. Temperatures will fall into the 20s on Monday night - there might be a patch or two of ice (if there is any moisture left on the roadways).

Another chance for showers will occur on Thursday. Right now it appears to mainly be a shower event. I can't completely rule out some thunder. Check back for an update as we move through the week.

This is what the surface map is forecast to look like - this is from the NAM model. The pink, purple, and blue colors represent precipitation. Image from www.wright-weather.com

I am watching a larger storm system for the coming weekend into early next week. This system should bring showers and perhaps thunderstorms into the area. Right now I am thinking Sunday/Monday will be the main cold front passage - that would bring the best chance of rain.

A bit soon to make a call on whether or not severe storms might occur with this next system. The models are showing a fairly deep area of low pressure moving to our northwest. Still several days to monitor the track and intensity of this system.

Some of the latest data actually shows the area of low pressure moving further south - that might help keep our area out of the severe weather threat zone. Monitoring and will update through the week.

Remember that an area of low pressure rotates counter-clockwise. If a low passes to our west or northwest then it pulls warm and moist air northward. Once it moves off to our east then it pulls colder air into our region. This is why it warms up ahead of a cold front in our region and cools down once the front has passed. Assuming the low passes off to our west and north.

If an area of low pressure passes to our south, during the winter months, then we start thinking about colder air in our region and snow or wintry precipitation (not always - but sometimes).

Numbers are still coming in from the severe weather outbreak last week. This outbreak will rank in the top three January outbreaks on record (number of tornadoes). It was an impressive event.

The blue dots on the image below represent wind damage reports. The red dots are tornado reports.

More information on the SPC page - click here

You can also read a bit more about the outbreak from Dr. Jeff Master's web-site
Click here

The National Weather Service Office in Paducah, KY is also posting information on the outbreak
Click here
Spot NWS forecast for your location (keep in mind that these forecasts on the point and click page are the NWS forecast thoughts - my thoughts are below and/or on my weather Facebook page) -- Click here - then enter your zip code for the most up to date spot forecast from the National Weather Service.

I am not tracking any winter storms. Sorry snow fans!

The longer range is starting to show some colder shots of air after this week. A couple of storm systems may track south of our region. This might mean snow for some areas of the south-lands and southeast United States. A bit early to make a call on storm tracks. Stay tuned!

For more frequent updates visit my weather Facebook page - click here and hit like at the top of the page.

No major concerns

No major concerns.

No wild card in today's forecast.
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The forecast for severe or extreme weather

The McCracken County Office of Emergency Management reminds you that owning a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio is the best way to receive notifications of severe weather watches and warnings.

Remember that the National Weather Service defines a severe thunderstorm as one that produces 58 mph winds or higher, hail 1" in size or larger, and/or a tornado.

Monday: Severe weather is not anticipated. No snow or ice.

Is there a chance for thunderstorms BELOW severe limits? No

Tuesday: Severe weather is not anticipated. No snow or ice.

Is there a chance for thunderstorms BELOW severe limits? No

Wednesday: Severe weather is not anticipated. No snow or ice.

Is there a chance for thunderstorms BELOW severe limits? No

For the most up to date severe weather outlooks - click here.

Visit the Storm Prediction Center's web-site - click here

To view storm reports from today and yesterday - click here

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Will the Storm Prediction Center issue a tornado or severe thunderstorm watch for southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, or western Kentucky?

Monday - No
Tuesday - No
Wednesday - No
Thursday - No

To view the official Storm Prediction Center's web-site - click here Alternative link - click here

We have a number of new radars available on our Weather Observatory web-site !
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We now offer St Louis, Mt Vernon, Evansville, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, Marion, Paducah, Hopkinsville, Memphis, Nashville, and Dyersburg Interactive City Radars. I have added all of eastern Kentucky, as well.

We also have the two regional radars and now offer you three GR Earth radars.

Click here for our radar page - WEATHER RADARS ---
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We also have a new interactive radar - you can view that radar by clicking here.

Want to learn more about how to use our radars? Here is a video with more information

Click here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfLa0hI3adU

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To view all watches and warnings in IL - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in KY - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in MO - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in TN - Click Here
All other states- Click Here

The links above are interactive and you can move around the United States by simply clicking on the national map - or from the pull down menu where it says regions and US States.
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To view the interactive warning map - click here.

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You can listen to local emergency services, SKYWARN storm spotters, and more by visiting our scanner feed page - click here

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The Weather Observatory is a strong partner with the National Weather Service - click here to visit your local NWS web-site. For the most up to date warnings/advisories hit refresh on their page.

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Let's check out the how much rain is forecast to fall in our region. This map gives you a general broad brushed idea of what can be expected. Remember the scale is at the top of the map.

Click the link below - then choose your the time period you are interested in!

CLICK HERE FOR THE RAINFALL GRAPHIC - then choose the time frame above the image

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You can also now view the probability of X amount of rain (you pick the value on the web-site) in a six hour period of time. Those maps can be viewed here.

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Current conditions - including temperatures, apparent temperatures, heat index, wind chill, wind, pressure, humidity, dew points, and more - click here
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You can view the upcoming days high temperature and low temperature forecasts by clicking here - choose the day - click on your state to zoom in
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To view recent records that have been broken - click here
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Keep in mind that these forecasts on the point and click page are the NWS forecast thoughts - my thoughts are below and/or on my weather Facebook page.

Forecast for your local town/city - Click Here

We have a TON of new weather maps on the Weather Observatory web-site - these include temperatures, wind speed, dew points, heat index, barometric pressure, predicted rainfall, climate forecast, medium and long range maps, forecasts and more! Click here

Don't forget to sign up for the severe weather "heads up" email list - I usually email everyone before a big event - severe weather - tornado outbreaks - winter storms - ice storms. Click here to join---

If you are a weather enthusiast then I recommend listening to WeatherBrains each week! For a more in-depth look at what is happening in meteorology.

Now is a GREAT time to buy a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio. Better to have one before storms strike than to be without one during an event. I recommend the Midland Model 300 NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio - that is what I use here at my house!

Meteorologist Beau Dodson
McCracken County Office of Emergency Management
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Beau Dodson Weather - Facebook
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To view all watches and warnings in Illinois - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in Kentucky - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in Missouri - Click Here
To view all watches and warnings in Tennessee - Click Here
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All other states- Click Here
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For the latest watches and warnings please visit your local National Weather Service Office web-site
http://www.weather.gov/organization.php
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Remember most of the maps on the blog can be viewed on Weather Observatory Web-Site
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