Threat of tornadoes across the South 2 days before Christmas

The Storm Prediction has already upgraded the risk to moderate across West Tennessee, Mississippi, parts of Kentucky, Missouri, and Arkansas. This will keep our atmosphere fairly stable this morning with only minimal thunderstorm development. This will change quickly during the afternoon hours. A cold front will then move into the area by the evening with strong to severe storms possible.

In northern Arkansas, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Lawrence, Randolph, Clay and Greene counties as a storm with gusts up to 70 miles per hour was tracked over Attica, the national weather service said. We expect the coverage of thunderstorms to be relatively low.

Timing of the severe weather is not specific right now because of several uncertainties, according to Zach Maye NWS meteorologist.

The threats include significant straight-line wind damage, potential hail and potential tornadoes. There were two big tornado outbreaks in December 1982, and both occurred predominately in Dixie Alley.

During the winter, MEMA will provide additional topical winter weather preparedness information to help residents prepare for severe winter weather. The closer to the MS line is the greater concern. “It brings in the moisture and the heat we need to provide instability for storms to fire”. There should be some weakening overnight as the shear begins to decrease. With that, storms have them on alert over the next couple of days. This has the potential of being a long duration severe weather event. Following Monday’s storms, tranquil weather temporarily builds in as cool, dry air makes a welcomed return. This will shift east into Alabama by sunset.

The threat for severe weather will increase across our area beginning early Wednesday morning and continue throughout the day.

Worse Case: we see a few discrete supercells that produce a couple of tornadoes…

We may not be able to give the all clear until sometime tomorrow afternoon.

As the holiday season ramps up with unseasonably warm temperatures throughout the Midwest and Northeast (it’s forecast to be in the 70s on Christmas Eve in Washington, D.C.), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently covered the record-breaking 2015 hurricane season, which included 21 hurricanes.

Travelers should have a way to get weather alerts, Maye said, and everyone should have a plan to seek shelter if necessary.

“Being it the day prior to Christmas Eve, we know that many folks will be traveling to see loved ones or finishing up that last minute shopping during this time”, forecasters said in a special weather statement issued for Fentress County and the rest of Middle Tennessee.

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