US tornado chasers prepare for high season

Submitted by Michael H. King, Digital Executive Producer

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 6:42pm

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With the month of March looming, United States tornado chasers are already watching the Southeast as a nasty storm brews with the potential to spin off a batch of tornadoes.

But if funnel clouds develop Thursday or Friday as some forecasters believe, they won't be the first. This tornado season got an early and deadly start in late January when two people were killed by separate twisters in Alabama. Preliminary reports showed 95 tornadoes struck last month, compared with 16 in January during a particularly stormy 2011.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Round one spawned tornado in Rome. Round two possible tonight! Windy too!

Submitted by Samantha Mohr, 11Alive Meteorologist

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 2:29pm

Round one spawned tornado in Rome. Round two possible tonight! Windy too!

The NWS has ruled the severe storm in Rome last night produced an EF-1 tornado. With the approaching cold front moving through overnight we may be in for round two. Right now the Storm prediction Center is calling for a slight chance of severe across with weather conditions similar to what we saw last night.

It will be warm and windy ahead of the front with SW winds gusting to 35mph. The wind advisory is in effect for almost the entire state through midnight tonight.

Be sure to follow the progress of the storm with Chief Meteorologist Mike Francis before you turn in for the night. The timing for severe weather looks most likely between10pm and 7am tomorrow. This will be while most of us are sleeping so please have your weather radio ready to alert you and wake you up if severe weather moves in.

Wind Advisory in effect today ahead of cold front...Gusts up to 35mph!!!

View Comments | Post a Comment

North Georgia Under a Slight Risk

Submitted by Mike Francis, Chief Meteorologist

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 11:28am

Most of N Georgia is under a slight risk for severe weather later tonight, however I don't think the threat tonight is as high as it was for last night. If you notice below the upper energy that is coming out tonight has its eyes set on the Ohio valley area, not the SE. Secondly the cold front is not progged to make it through N Georgia til tomorrow morning around 3-7am. None the less we will keep you updated.

I give tonight a 2 on a scale of 1-10.

Energy heading into the OH valley area, this is from 1am

Front does not even get close to N Georgia til early tomorrow morning

View Comments | Post a Comment

Round Two For Bad Weather Tonight?

Submitted by Chesley McNeil, Meteorologist

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 8:15am

Mostly cloudy skies to start this morning. Clouds are forecast to break up, and we will see a little more sun this afternoon. Warm this afternoon with highs in the low 70s. Clouds will increase later this afternoon. A cold front will approach the area tonight. Ahead of the front, isolated showers and thunderstorms will pop up. Some of the thunderstorms will have the capability to produce strong winds, hail, and the possibility of an isolated tornado.

Expecting lingering showers to be around Friday morning. Skies will gradually clear Friday afternoon and evening. Temperatures will be slightly cooler Friday afternoon.

Long Term:

High pressure will build into the area for the weekend. Expect partly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday. Highs will be in the mid to upper 50s. Next chance of showers will be Tuesday of next week.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Severe Weather Update 11:30

Submitted by Mike Francis, Chief Meteorologist

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 12:07am

Storms continue to weaken tonight as they head off towards the east at around 35mph. There has been one report of damage in Floyd county, but since then the only reports we have had have been of a lot of lightning and some small hail. Gusty winds have been reported with these storms as well. The storms are leaving the axis of instability the snuck up into the state over the last 3 hours. Storms should be diminishing throughout the overnight hours.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Severe Weather Update | 9:45pm Update

Submitted by Mike Francis, Chief Meteorologist

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012, 10:41pm

Storms continue to move in from the NW tonight, but the threat for severe appears to be diminishing. If you look at the image below you can see that the instability axis is well to the south and that is where it will stay. The threat for tornadoes tonight is non existent, even the threat for damaging winds is gone as well. The showers that are to our north will scoot just to the north of the metro area, mainly staying north of Cobb, Fulton and Gwinett. The only threat tonight will be lightning and a bit of rain. \

On a scale of 1-10 tonight I give it a 1.