TEXAS [and Southern Plains eastward] UNDER THE GUN

Accuweather.com News ^ | Friday, April 28, 2006 | Steve Penstone

[sully777]

By AccuWeather.com News Director Steve Penstone

(STATE COLLEGE) - AccuWeather.com is forecasting strong storms will develop over Texas and Oklahoma later today.

The three ingredients necessary for the development of severe weather will be over the Lone Star State today. Southeast winds will bring ample amounts of moist air from the Gulf, cold air will move in behind the system as it heads east, and a powerful jet stream is in place to stir everything together.

The system will rocket out of the southern Rockies and into the southern Plains, and by late afternoon or this evening thunderstorms will develop over western and central Texas. AccuWeather.com is forecasting the heaviest storms will hit the area that includes Abilene, San Angelo, Midland and Odessa. Tornadoes and large hail will be the major threats across the region.

Texas will not be the only target of this massive spring storm. It will be a slow-moving storm, and as a result, heavy rain will fall across the central Plains states. AccuWeather.com is forecasting eastern Kansas and western Missouri will receive 1 to 2 inches of rain, with some localized 4 to 5 inch totals. The constant, heavy rain will lead to flash flooding across the central Plains.

The storm's push to the east will be held up by a blocking high pressure system parked over the Northeast. Most of the Northeast will be dry and mild through the weekend; however, a storm moving into Atlantic Canada could allow for some showers to back into eastern New England late on Sunday.

The ocean system will create some problems along the Southeast coast. Onshore winds will gust up to 40 mph, and the northeast flow will create 10-foot waves and dangerous rip currents.

April has been a very wet month in California, but a major change is in store over the next several days. Already this month Oxnard has recorded six times the average rainfall for the month, while Santa Barbara has received seven times the normal April rain.

The marine influence will bring morning clouds and fog to coastal areas, and daytime highs along the coast will be kept in the 60s; however, the highs will soar into the 80s farther inland in the Central Valley and the 90s across the desert areas. It will also be warm in the mountains, with highs around Lake Tahoe forecast to reach the 60s. The increasing warmth across California will increase the snowmelt from the massive snowpack in the mountains. The California Department of Water Resources reports statewide the water content in the snow pack is running close to 200 percent above normal.

[sully777]

Winds are pretty strong but oddly more pronounced in the upper levels of atmosphere. Very muggy. Hot and cold temps swirling at ground level and lifting. Breaks in the clouds here in Oklahoma show that we are covered by developing supercells. I'm leaving for business but want to leave this thread up for any developments and links.

Looks like it's going to be a long day for some FReepers in the Midwest/Southern Plains.

[sully777]

Click for weather map looping animation

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[lexington minuteman 1775]

Prayers up for people in the storms path!

[2Jedismom]

I'm hoping and praying it's nothing more than a much needed good soaking rain!

[sully777]

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Texas will be the target for some strong storms on Friday as a spring storm takes shape across the region. Ahead of the storm, southeasterly winds will bring ample Gulf moisture into Texas. At the same time, cold air aloft moving in behind the storm will clash with this warm, humid air mass, causing thunderstorms to develop. To top it all off, a powerful jet stream will be in place overhead. Very large hail and tornadoes will be the primary threats with these storms. Although all of western and central Texas will under the gun, residents of Abilene, San Angelo, Midland and Odessa should be especially on guard, since the strongest storms will likely be in your area. Story by Accuweather.com Meteorologist Brian Frugis ~~Source: Accuweather

[sully777]

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A developing spring storm will affect he Plains this weekend. This storm system will be quite a slow-mover because a strong high pressure area over the Northeast will be blocking its progress. Moisture will flow northward from the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for copious amounts of rainfall. The heaviest rain will likely fall across eastern Kansas and western Missouri, where over 2 inches of rainfall is possible. Flash flooding could become a problem across the central Plains, thanks to this heavy rainfall. In addition, this storm system will spark dangerous thunderstorms across Texas and Louisiana with the potential for strong winds, large hail and tornadoes.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Frugis

[2Jedismom]

So far so good...here in the South Tulsa area, we're receiving a delightful heavy thunderstorm, but no high winds or hail.

The weather lady on The News on 6 just said the threat for severe weather will be this evening and overnight.

[sully777]

Never thought I'd say that thunderstorms are delightful, but after this past year's drought, they are truly delightful...like the delightful gully washer this past Monday. :)

[2Jedismom]

We missed it completely...got a little drizzle and that was it. It went one mile north of us!

This is beautiful so far!

[Professional Engineer]

Git yer SKYWARN runnin'

[Muleteam1]

Here on the Texas High Plains nortwest of Lubbock we appear to be right on the northwest edge of the violent storms shown of the Accu Weather map. The skies are mostly clear but the winds are at the moment gusting pretty good from the north out of large thunderheads to our north and east. The large clouds appear to moving north/northeast away from us.

Vehicle is in the garage in case of hail this evening, and the storm shelter is ready for as many neighbors as I can pack inside if we have to.

Muleteam1

[2Jedismom]

What's SKYWARN, Precious?

[Peanut Gallery]

woohoo! get to use thenewradio.

[Peanut Gallery]

AccuWeather.com is forecasting the heaviest storms will hit the area that includes Abilene, San Angelo, Midland and Odessa.

When I was stationed at Goodfellow AFB, watching the T-storms roll in was a favorite past-time. It's quite remarkable!

[Deguello]

My buddy's ranch just south of Breckenridge, TX has had zero rain this year...bring on the rain.

[COEXERJ145]

Looks like I get to rumble tonight.

[vive-le-resistance]

Hail! I just got my car fixed from a fneder bender that happend a while back ... hopefully it's just a good rain...

[spikeytx86]

Moving to Lubbock from Houston on June 1st. Hoping to miss hurricane season here and the bulk of tornado season in Lubbock because the place we are moving to has no storm shelter :-(.

I think we are supposed to get sever weather but the bulk of it will be to the North and West of Houston.

[Peanut Gallery]

Oh 2J, you and the jedis would love HAM radio and SKYWARN. Karateboy isn't mature enough yet, but your older son sounds like this stuff is right up his alley, so to speak.

http://www.skywarn.org/

[Syntyr]

Lovely! I am sittng in the oakland airport waiting to fly back to Houston. Gonna be a fun afternoon!