As I write this, a unusually strong severe weather event is taking shape across the Southern US. The SPC has issued their first moderate risk of the year for the lower Mississippi and Tennessee River Valleys.
SPC Day 1 Outlook 1630z
SPC Day 1 Tornado Probability 1630z
A powerful Low with an associated cold front is forecast to move through the area later today and into tomorrow. This coupled with a retreating warm front in the area will combine to produce very favorable conditions for all modes of severe weather including some powerful tornadoes.
Current SFC Map
SFC Map Monday 06z
I think now would be a good time for all of us to check to make sure our NOAA weather radios are programmed and working properly. Even though we’re not affected by the severe weather yet in Iowa, it will come soon enough.
Multiple storm chasers are already enroute to or have already arrived in the area of Eastern Arkansas where initiation looks to take place later this afternoon. Several chasers have live streams up and going, so you can follow along as they chase. I have started a list of live streaming sites which can be found on the bottom right side of my homepage.
As we start 2012, I find myself looking back at 2011. It started off with a bang and faded rather early(at least as far as Iowa’s concerned). According to the NWS, Iowa saw about the average normal of Tornadoes this year. Along with tornadoes, we had a derecho event as well. If you haven’t already, please visit my entries about my 2011 chases.
Of course we can’t forget the tragedies many communities faced in 2011. Namely those in Alabama and Joplin. Though the media tends to focus on those two communities, let’s not forget all the communities hit with tornadoes in 2011. 2011 was a life changing year not only for many families touched by tragedy, but chasers as well. Chasers all across the country including yours truly will be more focused on public safety and awareness from here on out as well as chasing for the love of mother nature that many of us share.
What does 2012 hold for us? Only time will tell.
With nothing exciting happening weather wise these days, I thought I would write a quick note about fall colors. I get asked a lot by people about when the trees will begin to turn colors.
The Iowa DNR has an excellent website dedicated to this very subject. Here you can find all there is to know about the fall colors in Iowa. Trees typically (depends on the weather of course) begin to show their fall colors around the weekend of Oct 10th and then spread south from there.
I hope this year to get out and take advantage of all Mother Nature has to offer. In years past, mother nature hasn’t been too kind and many trees lost their leaves early. Hopefully, this year will be different..
Until next time…
