Severe Storms

WW 473 SEVERE TSTM CT DC DE MD NJ NY PA VA WV CW 181745Z - 190200Z
0-190200- URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 473 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 145 PM EDT Mon Jul 18 2022 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Western Connecticut District Of Columbia Northern Delaware Maryland New Jersey Southeast New York Eastern Pennsylvania Northern Virginia Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia Coastal Waters * Effective this Monday afternoon and evening from 145 PM until 1000 PM EDT. * Primary threats include... Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely A tornado or two possible SUMMARY...Thunderstorms will intensify this afternoon along a corridor from northern Virginia into southeast New York. The stronger cells will pose a risk of locally damaging wind gusts. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 45 statute miles either side of a line from 25 miles south southeast of Elkins WV to 25 miles east of Poughkeepsie NY. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes. && AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 25025. ...Hart Read more

SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1223 PM CDT Mon Jul 18 2022 Valid 191200Z - 201200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR NORTHEAST ND...NORTHERN MN...WESTERN UPPER MI...CENTRAL/NORTHERN WI... ...SUMMARY... Widely scattered severe thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday and Tuesday night over portions of the Upper Midwest into parts of Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Severe gusts and large hail appear to be the primary hazards. ...Synopsis... A strong mid/upper-level trough will move from the northern High Plains into the Great Lakes region on Tuesday into Tuesday night. In conjunction with this trough, a surface low will deepen and move from northern MN toward Lake Superior, as an attendant cold front sweeps through the northern and central Great Plains. Downstream, a an upper trough will gradually move eastward across the Northeast and New England, while a weaker upper trough will move from the southern Appalachians toward the Carolinas. Elsewhere, an upper ridge will persist from the Southwest into the southern Plains. ...Upper Midwest/Great Lakes... One or more storm clusters may be ongoing Tuesday morning from northeast ND into northern MN, which could pose a threat of isolated hail and/or damaging wind early in the forecast period. This convection will likely leave a remnant outflow boundary somewhere over northern MN by late morning into the afternoon. Moderate destabilization is expected during the afternoon along/south of any outflow boundary and along/east of the cold front. Rather strong midlevel flow associated with the approaching mid/upper-level trough will support effective shear of 30-40 kt, resulting in a conditionally favorable severe thunderstorm environment across the region by mid/late afternoon. Despite having a seasonably strong synoptic system moving into the region, 12Z guidance continues to be relatively muted in terms of robust storm development along the cold front through much of the day, likely due to the presence of an initially strong capping inversion across the warm sector, and a tendency for the strongest ascent to lag behind the front. Redevelopment of storms during the afternoon appears most likely near/north of the remnant outflow boundary across northern MN, with more isolated development possible southward along the cold front into parts of WI and upper MI by early evening. The strongest cells/clusters will be capable of producing hail and damaging wind gusts. ...Northern New England... A notable midlevel shortwave embedded within the larger-scale trough is forecast to move across northern New England during the day on Tuesday. Low-level flow will become veered as a surface low departs the region during the morning, but residual low-level moisture will support moderate destabilization (MLCAPE of 1000-1500 J/kg) in conjunction with peak heating. Midlevel drying and weak surface convergence may limit storm coverage across the region, but moderate midlevel flow and deep-layer shear will support the potential for isolated cells/clusters capable of locally damaging wind gusts and possibly some hail. ...Southeast CO into the southern High Plains... Convection is expected to develop across the higher terrain of central/southern CO and northern NM during the afternoon. As this convection spreads into the increasingly hot lower elevations, strong to locally severe outflow gusts will be possible. Isolated high-based storms with gusty winds also cannot be ruled out near a weak front across the OK/TX Panhandles, though this scenario remains too uncertain for wind probabilities at this time. ..Dean.. 07/18/2022 Read more

SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1127 AM CDT Mon Jul 18 2022 Valid 181630Z - 191200Z ...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST MONTANA INTO NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA... ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC TO NEW ENGLAND REGIONS... ...SUMMARY... The greatest severe-thunderstorm threat will be for destructive, severe gusts and hail today into this evening, from northeastern Montana to northern North Dakota. ...Synopsis... A Four Corners upper ridge will continue to dominate the upper-level flow regime for today with broad troughing over the greater Great Lakes region. A pair of more notable embedded perturbations, one over the Great Lakes with a second approaching the northern Rockies, will drive severe weather chances for this afternoon and into tonight across the northern Great Plains as well as over the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. ...Northern Plains... The eastward progression of a compact upper-level perturbation across the northern Rockies is apparent in mid-morning water vapor imagery. Ahead of this feature, surface pressure falls are noted across eastern MT and the Dakotas in recent surface observations, and the subsequent mass response is bolstering low-level moisture content with dewpoints increasing into the upper 60s and low 70s. Consequently, a broad warm frontal zone is becoming more apparent across ND and southern Canada. Lift ahead of the wave coupled with ascent along an advancing cold front should support thunderstorm development by late afternoon across eastern MT. Initially discrete cells will mature in an environment with somewhat marginal instability, but elongated hodographs and deep, well-mixed boundary layers that will support organized convection with a severe wind threat, including the potential for significant gusts. Convection will likely intensify as it continues eastward into the Dakotas where boundary-layer moisture will be richer. The best organized severe threat will likely be found in the vicinity of the triple point across northeast MT into northwest ND where lift will locally be maximized. Upscale growth into one or more segments into the late evening/overnight hours is possible across northern ND along a diffuse warm frontal zone. To the east, a strengthening low-level jet will augment warm advection over the frontal zone and support thunderstorm development across northwest to northern MN this evening. Storms will likely propagate to the east/southeast along the frontal zone and within a strong northwesterly flow regime. While storm mode is uncertain, a hail/wind threat appears probable across northern MN into northern lower MI through the overnight hours. ...Mid-Atlantic and New England... Latest analysis shows a surface low gradually deepening across Lake Eerie. This feature will continue to deepen through the day amid increasing mid and upper-level flow. A trailing surface trough should act as the impetus of thunderstorm development from New England into the southern Appalachians as it migrates east through the day. Mid-morning satellite imagery reveals extensive cloud cover across much of the New England region. This cloud cover was also sampled in regional 12 UTC soundings, which featured high column saturation and poor low and mid-level lapse rates. Despite the meager thermodynamic profile, boundary-layer moisture across the region is unseasonably high (surface dewpoints near or above the 90th percentile for mid-July were noted in morning observations). Because of this, any daytime heating that can occur will likely yield adequate buoyancy to support thunderstorm development this afternoon. The degree of destabilization across the New England region is questionable given the extensive cloud cover; however, the increasing flow across the region will boost low-level SRH along a broad warm frontal zone over the region. This will support the potential for not only damaging winds, but a few weak tornadoes as well. To the south across the Mid-Atlantic, patchy cloud cover is allowing for temperatures to quickly warm into the low to mid 80s. Regional VWPs already show winds in the lowest few kilometers increasing to 30 knots, with further strengthening expected through the day. Thunderstorms developing along the front will support a more robust severe wind threat compared to locations further north where instability is more questionable. While low-level hodographs may not feature as much curvature as areas to the north, forecast soundings feature enough low-level veering to support at least a low-end tornado concern. ...Lower Appalachians to Mid-South... A trailing surface trough/cold front draped across the lower Appalachians and into the mid-MS River Valley will support thunderstorm development through the afternoon. While deep-layer flow is meager (recent effective shear estimates near 20-25 knots were noted on recent ACARs soundings), favorable buoyancy should compensate for this weakness and support a damaging wind threat through the afternoon. Latest guidance continues to suggest a cluster of storms across northern MS may consolidate into a more cohesive, southward-propagating convective line that could pose a more widespread damaging wind threat, though confidence this potential remains low given the weak environment flow. ..Moore/Hart.. 07/18/2022 Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1127 AM CDT Mon Jul 18 2022 Valid 181700Z - 191200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR SOUTHEAST IDAHO... The forecast remains on track without changes. See the previous discussion for more details. ..Wendt.. 07/18/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0204 AM CDT Mon Jul 18 2022/ ...Synopsis... On the northwestern periphery of the strong mid-level anticyclone, a compact and deep upper low will move quickly eastward across the Northwest and northern Rockies today. Flattening the ridge as it passes, strong mid-level westerlies will overspread the northern Great Basin and Rockies, supporting critical fire weather concerns. A strong cold front may also trigger isolated thunderstorms, some dry, across portions of Montana and Wyoming. ...Eastern Idaho and northern Great Basin... With the passage of the strong upper low to the north, a belt of 40-60 kt mid-level flow should bolster low-level surface winds from northern Nevada eastward into portions of central and eastern Idaho. Dry downslope winds and warm temperatures should easily support widespread RH below 15% through the afternoon. The strongest winds, and most likely corridor for sustained critical conditions, should remains across eastern Idaho. However, given the strong flow aloft, locally critical conditions will be possible for a few hours in the lee of the Sierra as well. ...Central High Plains... East of the main upper low, very warm temperatures and increasing westerly flow should favor the development of a lee trough across eastern Wyoming and the central High Plains. West/southwest winds near the higher terrain should reach 15-20 mph with locally higher gusts possible. Widespread RH below 20%, gusty winds, and very dry fuels should support elevated fire weather conditions through the afternoon and early evening. ...Thunderstorms... Plentiful heating ahead of strong height falls associated with the deep upper low should result in isolated thunderstorms across the northern and central Rockies this afternoon. With these high-based and relatively fast moving storms, wetting rain potential appears low. A few dry strikes are possible, along with gusty and erratic winds with stronger downdrafts. However, the coverage of dry lightning should remain below the threshold for IsoDryT conditions given recent rainfall. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

MD 1508 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY FOR PARTS OF FAR NORTHERN VA...MD...EASTERN PA...NORTHERN DE...NJ...SOUTHERN NY...WESTERN MA AND CT
Mesoscale Discussion 1508 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1118 AM CDT Mon Jul 18 2022 Areas affected...parts of far northern VA...MD...eastern PA...northern DE...NJ...southern NY...western MA and CT Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely Valid 181618Z - 181815Z Probability of Watch Issuance...95 percent SUMMARY...Damaging gusts and a couple of tornadoes are possible this afternoon across parts of the Mid-Atlantic into southwest New England. The severe threat is expected to increase over the next couple of hours, and a watch will likely be needed for portions of the region. DISCUSSION...Areas of clearing from northern VA into eastern PA/NJ have allowed temperatures to warm into the 80s at midday. This has allowed weak to moderate destabilization to occur amid 70s surface dewpoints. Further north into the Hudson Valley and southwestern New England, thicker cloud cover and showers are keeping temperatures in the low/mid 70s and limiting stronger destabilization. However, some clearing across these areas through the afternoon should allow for modest heating and at least weak destabilization later today. Latest visible satellite indicates a cluster of vertically developing CU near the PA/NJ border as of 16z. Latest radar trends are increasing with this activity as well. This convection is developing along an axis of greater instability extending from the northern Chesapeake Bay toward northern NJ. Thunderstorms are expected to gradually increase across this area over the next couple of hours. Moderate vertical shear will support organized clusters and semi-discrete supercell structures capable of damaging gusts. Stronger low-level shear and more favorably curved hodographs will reside from northeast PA/northern NJ toward the lower Hudson Valley. Latest VWP data from KBMG and KENX show enlarged low-level hodographs with 0-1 km SRH values greater than 300 m2/s2. However, weaker instability in conjunction with poor lapse rates may limit intensity/longevity of any stronger cells across this area. Nevertheless, any sustained convection will pose a risk for a couple of tornadoes. Given current trends, a watch will likely be needed in the next 1-2 hours. ..Leitman/Hart.. 07/18/2022 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...BOX...OKX...ALY...PHI...BGM...CTP...LWX... LAT...LON 38907664 38807723 38987772 39257778 39817763 40777703 41607631 42407532 42507523 42737443 42727351 42587303 42277270 41717255 41317265 40877347 39247597 38907664 Read more

No watches are valid as of Sun Jul 17 17:55:01 UTC 2022.

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Sun Jul 17 17:55:01 UTC 2022.

SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook CORR 1 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1241 PM CDT Sun Jul 17 2022 Valid 181200Z - 191200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN MONTANA INTO NORTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA... CORRECTED FOR A COUPLE TYPOS ...SUMMARY... Strong to locally severe thunderstorm development is possible near the Canadian/U.S. border, from the Great Plains into the upper Great Lakes region, as well as across parts of the northern Mid Atlantic region, Monday afternoon into Monday night. ...Synopsis... Models indicate that lower/mid-tropospheric ridging will generally persist from the subtropical western Atlantic through much of the southern and central tier of the U.S. through this period. This will continue to include one prominent embedded mid-level high centered over the southern Rockies vicinity, and another elongated along 30N latitude across the western Atlantic, with weak mean troughing in between, roughly along an axis from the lower Mississippi Valley into the western slopes of the Appalachians. It does appear that flow may become a bit more progressive across the northern tier of the U.S., with a vigorous short wave trough and embedded low within one belt of westerlies forecast to accelerate across the northern Rockies into the northern Great Plains by late Monday night. Downstream, a more modest impulse likely will accelerate from the lower Great Lakes/upper Ohio Valley vicinity through northern New England. Both of these perturbations (preceding significant short wave impulses within a branch to the north, including one digging near or just south of southern Hudson Bay and another accelerating inland of the British Columbia coast) may be accompanied by surface cyclogenesis, with the lead cyclone probably becoming the more prominent while migrating from the lee of the lower Great Lakes into the St. Lawrence Valley. ...Northern Mid Atlantic... Pre-frontal surface troughing, extending from near the migratory low southward through the Mid Atlantic, likely will become the focus for the more prominent boundary-layer destabilization during the day Monday. The boundary-layer probably will become characterized by seasonably high moisture content, but lower/mid tropospheric lapse rates are expected to be generally weak, and most guidance suggests that CAPE may not reach 1000 J/kg. However, a belt of 30-40+ kt southwesterly flow in the 850-500 mb layer will potentially contribute to an environment conducive to organized convection given sufficient destabilization. It is possible that this could include a couple of supercells with a risk for tornadoes, particularly across the Poconos and Catskills into Hudson Valley vicinity by late Monday afternoon. ...Northern Rockies into upper Great Lakes region... In association with the short wave developments, models indicate that a lower/mid tropospheric front within an evolving deformation zone will become focused near the international border area, from the Great Plains into the upper Great Lakes region. Along and to the southwest of this front, a plume of warm and capping elevated mixed-layer air is forecast to advect east of the Rockies. At mid-levels (around 700 mb) the northeastern periphery of this air mass may generally extend from north of the international border across the Great Plains into the western Lake Superior/Upper Michigan vicinity by early Monday evening. Beneath this regime, in the presence of moderate west/northwesterly mid-level flow, there may be sufficient moisture to contribute to mixed-layer CAPE on the order of 2000+ J/kg, and the environment appears likely to become at least conditionally supportive of severe storms, potentially including isolated supercells and organizing storm clusters. However, forcing to overcome the mid-level inhibition remains unclear across much of the region. Most guidance does appear to suggest that a concentrated area of strong forcing for ascent, just to the east-northeast of the approaching mid-level low, may overcome inhibition and promote sustained thunderstorm development across parts of northeastern Montana by early Monday evening. This may be accompanied by the risk for severe wind and hail, which probably will spread into portions of northwestern and north central North Dakota through Monday night. ..Kerr.. 07/17/2022 Read more

SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1130 AM CDT Sun Jul 17 2022 Valid 171630Z - 181200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE OZARK PLATEAU THROUGH THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY... ...SUMMARY... Damaging thunderstorm gusts and isolated large hail are possible today from the Ozarks to the central Appalachians, as well as across eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. ...Synopsis... A pair of weak upper-level disturbances/MCVs remain evident in mid-level reflectivity mosaics across central IL and the upper OH River Valley. Embedded within a broad trough across the great Great Lakes region, these features are expected to continue to propagate to the east/northeast through the day. Widespread stratiform rain with embedded convection in the vicinity of these two features is diabatically reinforcing a stalled cold front draped through the OH River Valley into the southern Plains. This front is expected to gradually migrate southward through the day and will likely be the impetus for thunderstorm development and/or intensification later this afternoon. Across the west, ample monsoonal moisture across the Great Four Corners region and into the northern Rockies will support scattered thunderstorm development with the potential for severe downburst winds. ...Upper OH River Valley... The ongoing showers and thunderstorms across the mid to upper OH River Valley are limiting the potential for daytime heating across the region. Temperatures are currently struggling to climb above the mid 70s with few breaks in cloud cover expected through at least mid afternoon. With lift and modest, but sufficient, deep-layer flow already in place ahead of the MCVs, the greater severe threat will likely reside along and south of the OH River Valley where some destabilization is already noted. Latest CAMs support this idea and show clusters developing by late afternoon through the region. Severe probabilities have been adjusted southward to reflect this trend. ...Ozark Plateau into the lower OH River Valley... Morning showers and thunderstorms across southern MO and into adjacent parts of AR, IL, and KY will likely limit diurnal heating through at least early afternoon. Some guidance suggests sufficient clearing can take place to allow thunderstorm development across central to southern MO by mid-afternoon, and latest visible satellite imagery and surface temperature trends across western MO support this idea, but the degree of destabilization that can occur remains uncertain. Confidence in storm development is higher to the south across AR and into the mid-MS River Valley where destabilization is already ongoing with temperatures climbing into the low/mid 80s. While mid to upper-level flow will be modest, adequate deep-layer shear should be in place to support semi-discrete storms to clusters from western AR into western KY/TN to support an isolated hail/severe wind threat. A brief tornado or two appears possible across the mid-MS River Valley region where low-level helicity along and just ahead of the front will be maximized, but confidence in storm mode and coverage remains too limited for higher probabilities. ...Red River Valley of the North... Latest surface observations across northeast ND into northwest MN show surface pressure falling over the past several hours, which is resulting in a slight bolstering of generally southerly low-level flow through the region. In turn, dewpoints have increased into the 70s through the region, which is boosting MLCAPE estimates to over 2000 J/kg. Despite the improving buoyancy, 12 UTC soundings from BIS and ABR reveal some mixed-layer inhibition, which remains a concern for convective potential later this afternoon. Forecast soundings suggest this inhibition may become negligible by this afternoon, and several CAMs show discrete supercell potential as storms develop along a weak surface trough. However, some spread in guidance remains with other solutions showing little to no activity south of the international border. The Marginal risk has been expanded south to encompass much of the Red River Valley, but this is to more accurately address spatial extent of the severe threat rather than indicate an increase in the probability for thunderstorms. ...Montana... Morning soundings from MT and ID sampled 50-60 knot winds aloft ahead of a shortwave trough located across the Pacific Northwest. These soundings also sampled mid-level monsoonal moisture and fairly dry boundary layers. With daytime heating already underway, thermodynamic profiles across southern MT should be favorable for thunderstorms with strong to severe downbursts by late this afternoon. Combined ascent ahead of the shortwave trough and via orographic ascent should support isolated to scattered thunderstorms across the region. ...Nevada/Utah... Similar to southern MT, 12 UTC soundings from LKN, VEF, and SLC all sampled dry boundary layers with adequate mid-level monsoonal moisture to support thunderstorms by this afternoon. Forecast soundings show 2 to 3 km deep sub-cloud layers with steep low-level lapse rates that will be supportive of strong to severe downburst winds. Latest CAM guidance shows a strong convective signal across northeast NV into northwest UT this afternoon, which gives sufficient confidence to introduce severe wind probabilities given the expected thermodynamic environment. ..Moore/Hart.. 07/17/2022 Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1114 AM CDT Sun Jul 17 2022 Valid 171700Z - 181200Z The ongoing forecast reasoning remains valid. Locally critical fire weather remains possible in far northwest Nevada into southeastern Oregon. See the previous discussion for further information. ..Wendt.. 07/17/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0147 AM CDT Sun Jul 17 2022/ ...Synopsis... To the northwest of a prominent anticyclone over the Southwest, a deepening Pacific trough will move ashore, overspreading strong flow aloft across the Northwest and Great Basin. At the surface, a cold front will move inland triggering isolated thunderstorms along the Cascades and northern Rockies. The strong surface flow, and dry/warm conditions across the southern Cascades/Great Basin will support several hours of elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions. ...Northern Great Basin... With flow aloft strengthening on the periphery of the upper ridge, dry downslope winds will develop off the Sierra and into the northern Great Basin this afternoon and evening. Deep mixing within the dry airmass across the region will support sustained winds of 15-20 mph and locally higher gusts. With widespread surface RH expected below 15%, the environment will easily support widespread elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions into early evening. Confidence in sustained critical conditions is lower, owing to borderline winds. However, the most likely corridor for some critical concerns appears to be across far northern NV into southeastern OR closer to the mid-level jet axis. A few hours of stronger sustained winds may develop here, but confidence remains too low for a Critical area at this time. Farther east, modest mid-level moisture on the periphery of the ridge will support a few thunderstorms across portions of central/eastern ID. Model soundings show high-based and fast-moving storms which may produce occasional lightning over dry fuels. While some risk of dry thunder likely exists given minimal wetting rain potential, storm coverage appears too low to warrant IsoDryT probabilities. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

No watches are valid as of Sat Jul 16 17:56:02 UTC 2022.

MD 1492 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH UNLIKELY FOR PORTIONS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC INTO NORTHERN NC
Mesoscale Discussion 1492 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 PM CDT Sat Jul 16 2022 Areas affected...Portions of the Mid-Atlantic into northern NC Concerning...Severe potential...Watch unlikely Valid 161736Z - 162030Z Probability of Watch Issuance...20 percent SUMMARY...Thunderstorms capable of producing isolated hail and damaging winds should spread slowly eastward this afternoon. Watch issuance appears unlikely at this time. DISCUSSION...There are rather prevalent low/mid-level clouds associated with a weak mid-level shortwave trough over parts of western/northern VA into western MD. To the east of these clouds, filtered diurnal heating should continue this afternoon along/south of a weak boundary that extends across southern portions of the Mid-Atlantic. As surface temperatures climb further into the 80s and 90s across the warm sector, weak to moderate instability will aid thunderstorm development. This process has already begun across parts of south-central VA into northern/central NC. Low/mid-level flow should remain fairly modest across these regions, but some enhancement to the mid-level westerlies (around 20-30 kt) associated with the weak shortwave trough could foster convective organization this afternoon. A mix of pulse thunderstorms and loosely organized multicells should spread slowly eastward over the next few hours. Isolated gusty to perhaps damaging downdraft winds should be the main threat as low-level lapse rates become steepened. Occasional marginally severe hail may also occur, as mid-level temperatures are seasonably cool. Current expectations are for the overall severe threat to remain rather isolated/marginal through the rest of the afternoon, and watch issuance appears unlikely at this time. ..Gleason/Hart.. 07/16/2022 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...PHI...AKQ...LWX...RAH...RNK... LAT...LON 39647710 39657641 39607586 39197541 38707560 37697621 37017671 36197743 35817813 35767862 35957935 36177997 36677979 37157932 37687859 38807763 39647710 Read more

SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1229 PM CDT Sat Jul 16 2022 Valid 171200Z - 181200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY INTO ALLEGHENY PLATEAU...OZARK PLATEAU/MID SOUTH...AND NORTHERN ROCKIES... ...SUMMARY... Strong thunderstorms may impact parts of the Ohio Valley and Allegheny Plateau into the Ozark Plateau and Mid South, as well as portions of the northern Rockies vicinity Sunday afternoon and evening, accompanied by at least some risk for damaging wind gusts. ...Synopsis... Lower/mid-tropospheric ridging will generally be maintained from the lower latitude western Atlantic through much of the U.S., including a couple of prominent embedded mid-level high centers over the Four Corners states and subtropical western Atlantic. Mid-level ridging within the westerlies to the north of the Four Corners high may become suppressed as far east as the northern Rockies, as a mid-level low turns inland of the Pacific Northwest coast. To the east of this ridging, a couple of digging perturbations may contribute to the evolution of larger-scale mid-level troughing east of the upper Mississippi Valley through the upper Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes, accompanied by influxes of cooler and/or drier low-level air. ...Upper Ohio Valley into Allegheny Plateau... Preceding one lead short wave perturbation within the evolving larger-scale mid-level troughing, low-level moistening may contribute to a corridor of mixed-layer CAPE on the order of 1000-2000 J/kg by Sunday afternoon with daytime heating. Thermodynamic profiles may be characterized by generally modest to weak lower/mid-tropopheric lapse rates and a high degree of saturation. However, a corridor of stronger thunderstorm development appears possible near the leading edge of the stronger mid-level forcing for ascent, which may coincide with 30-40+ kt flow on the southern fringe of the westerlies. This may be accompanied by the evolution of a slow moving squall line with the potential to produce damaging wind gusts, aided by heavy precipitation loading and downward momentum transport, before convection weakens by Sunday evening. ...Ozark Plateau/Mid South vicinity... Severe probabilities have been adjusted some to more closely align with a zone of stronger differential heating forecast to develop beneath a plume of warm elevated mixed-layer air emanating from the Great Plains. It remains unclear the extent to which forcing for ascent associated with digging perturbations upstream of the larger-scale mid-level trough axis will impact this developing boundary, and low-level warm advection along it may remain weak. However, given the presence of at least modestly steep mid-level lapse rates, sizable CAPE in excess of 2000 J/kg, and modest deep-layer shear, the environment probably will become at least conditionally supportive of organized convection with the potential to produce damaging wind gusts sometime late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. ...Northern Rockies... Due to limited moisture, models suggest that CAPE may only reach 500 J/kg or so by late Sunday afternoon, within a deeply mixed boundary layer across the higher terrain of southwestern into central Montana. However, forcing for ascent, aided by orography, downstream of the inland migrating low, coupled with shear beneath 30-50 kt flow in the 500-300 mb layer, might become conducive to organized convective development spreading northeastward off the higher terrain accompanied by potential to produce strong surface gusts by Sunday evening. ..Kerr.. 07/16/2022 Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1124 AM CDT Sat Jul 16 2022 Valid 161700Z - 171200Z No changes to the ongoing forecast. ..Wendt.. 07/16/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0136 AM CDT Sat Jul 16 2022/ ...Synopsis... Ridging will remain dominant across much of the western and central US as very warm and very dry conditions persist. A shortwave trough along the northwestern periphery of the mid-level anticyclone will move ashore across the West Coast later in the day. Accompanying stronger mid-level flow should gradually expand across the Great Basin and southern Cascades, bolstering modest surface winds for a few hours. Across the Southwest, monsoon thunderstorms are expected to remain mostly wet, while very warm conditions (temperatures 100F+) and weak winds will continue across the Plains. ...Northern Great Basin and southern Cascades... Modest westerly winds through the higher terrain are forecast across much of northern NV and southeastern OR today. Mid-level flow is forecast to slowly weaken through the morning before rebounding ahead of the trough moving onshore across the Pacific Northwest. As a result, low-level winds should remain modest through the first half of the day. However, hi-res guidance does show increasing probabilities for sustained 15-20 mph winds later in the afternoon coincident with sub 15% RH across the northern Great Basin/southern Cascades. Given dry area fuels, elevated fire weather conditions may develop later this afternoon, persisting into the evening. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1121 AM CDT Sat Jul 16 2022 Valid 161630Z - 171200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS...LOWER MISSOURI VALLEY...MD/DC/VA REGION...AND SOUTHERN AZ... ...SUMMARY... Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible over the central Plains this afternoon and evening, and possibly across the lower Missouri Valley overnight. Damaging to isolated severe gusts are also expected this afternoon from Maryland southward across Virginia, and over southern Arizona. ...Central NE... A broad upper ridge is present over much of the central/southern Plains and Rockies today. Several minor shortwave troughs are traversing the northern periphery of the ridge across the WY/NE vicinity. These features will interact with a weak surface boundary extending from central MO into central NE, resulting in scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Most 12z CAM solutions show a cluster of thunderstorms forming by late afternoon over central NE. These storms will track southeastward toward the KS border during the evening. A SLGT risk area was considered for this area. However, abundant mid-level clouds will slow daytime heating, and mid-level winds and temperatures are not particularly favorable for severe storms. Locally gusty/damaging winds will be possible with the stronger cells, but the overall coverage/intensity of these storms is uncertain. Therefore will maintain MRGL risk at this time and reconsider at the 20z update. ...Eastern CO/western KS... Hot surface temperatures will result in steep low-level lapse rates and a deeply mixed boundary layer this afternoon over parts of eastern CO and western KS. Scattered high-based thunderstorms are expected to develop and spread slowly eastward across this area through the evening. Gusty outflow winds are expected, but weak flow aloft and limited large scale forcing should limit the areal coverage of severe threat. ...VA/MD... Warm/humid conditions over eastern VA/MD will result in isolated to widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Forecast soundings show poor mid-level lapse rates and weak flow in the lowest 6-7km, which should limit convective organization and intensity. Nevertheless, a few cells may occasionally result in strong/damaging wind gusts through early evening. ...AZ... Water vapor imagery shows a weak vort max and plume of mid-level moisture moving across northern Mexico. This feature will likely result in scattered high-based showers and thunderstorms across parts of southern and central AZ this afternoon and evening. Hot surface temperatures and a deeply mixed boundary layer will support a risk of gusty/damaging winds in the strongest cells. ..Hart/Dean.. 07/16/2022 Read more

No watches are valid as of Fri Jul 15 17:56:02 UTC 2022.

SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1219 PM CDT Fri Jul 15 2022 Valid 161200Z - 171200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS AREA... ...SUMMARY... Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible over the central Plains vicinity on Saturday. ...Synopsis... A relatively stagnant upper flow regime will persist across the U.S. Saturday, as a ridge remains dominant across the western and south-central states. Meanwhile, a trough will shift slowly eastward across western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, while a second trough over eastern North America continues making gradual eastward progress. Within the northwesterly flow between the western ridge and eastern trough, a series of vorticity maxima -- loosely functioning as a broader-scale short-wave trough -- will move southeastward out of the northern Plains and across the Upper Midwest through the period. At the surface, a cold front will move slowly across the Pacific Northwest, while a second/weaker front sags slowly southeastward across the Midwest and central Plains. ...Central High Plains to northern Missouri... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast to be ongoing at the start of the period across portions of the northern and central Plains, with lingering convection and associated boundaries a complicating factor with respect to storm evolution/severe potential later in the day Saturday. While limited severe risk may linger across the Dakotas and Minnesota during the day, uncertainty prevails, precluding any severe-weather probabilities across this region in this update. From a larger-scale perspective, a surface front progged to extend east-to-west across the central Plains will be a focus for convective development. Isolated storms may initially develop across the central High Plains, while warm advection to the cool side of the boundary also suggests late afternoon storm development, as daytime heating contributes to a corridor of moderate destabilization. As a south-southwesterly low-level jet develops during the evening, isolated storms moving eastward across the High Plains may interact/congeal with convection farther east, potentially yielding an eastward-/southeastward-moving MCS across Kansas. While this scenario remains uncertain, the strengthening low-level jet beneath 40 kt west-northwesterly mid-level flow suggests this potential. In any case, gusty/locally damaging winds will be possible from afternoon into the overnight hours, with any stronger storms. ..Goss.. 07/15/2022 Read more

MD 1486 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY FOR PARTS OF WESTERN INTO CENTRAL MONTANA
Mesoscale Discussion 1486 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1221 PM CDT Fri Jul 15 2022 Areas affected...Parts of western into central Montana Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely Valid 151721Z - 151915Z Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent SUMMARY...A developing cluster of thunderstorms is expected to intensify and become better organized east of the Continental Divide. This may be accompanied by a developing swath of strong to severe wind gusts across and south of the Great Falls vicinity into central Montana (north through south of Lewistown) by 2-4 PM MDT. DISCUSSION...Downstream of one notable short wave perturbation progressing northeast of the Oregon Cascades, forcing for ascent has supported a sustained cluster of thunderstorms now spreading into and across the Continental Divide vicinity of western Montana. This activity appears to be focused near the nose of a 40-50 kt jet streak around 500 mb, with associated momentum contributing to a current forward propagation up to 40-45 kt. As forcing for ascent spread east of the higher terrain into areas near and south of the Great Falls vicinity within the next few hours, the environment appears likely to become increasingly conducive to renewed, intensifying thunderstorm development along an associated strengthening surface cold pool. In advance of the cold pool, forecast soundings suggest that further insolation will contribute to a seasonably warm and well-mixed boundary layer, including large surface temperature/dew point spreads up to around 40 F, but also characterized by CAPE on the order of 1000-1500 J/kg. Coupled with strengthening deep-layer shear, the evolution of an increasingly organized convective system seems possible, accompanied by increasing potential to produce strong to severe wind gusts while spreading into central Montana by 20-22Z. ..Kerr/Hart.. 07/15/2022 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...BYZ...GGW...TFX... LAT...LON 47601241 48121135 48380993 47750874 46800882 46250920 45451212 46481174 47601241 Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1107 AM CDT Fri Jul 15 2022 Valid 151700Z - 161200Z The forecast remains unchanged. See the previous discussion for greater details. ..Wendt.. 07/15/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0157 AM CDT Fri Jul 15 2022/ ...Synopsis... Across the western US, the mid-level flow pattern will remain dominated by a prominent anticyclone centered over the Southwest and southern High Plains. To the west of the ridge, a Pacific trough will move shoreward, bolstering mid-level southwesterly flow across the Cascades and northern Rockies. Beneath the ridge, a strong monsoonal surge will support scattered to widespread thunderstorms across the Southwest. Meanwhile, very warm and dry conditions are expected across the southern and central High Plains with temperatures exceeding 100F. ...Northern Great Basin... Modest southwesterly flow along the periphery of the ridge will support dry downslope flow off the Sierra across portions of northern NV, southeastern OR and eastern ID. Surface RH below 15% and winds near 15 mph will support elevated fire weather concerns given area fuel ERC values above the 90th percentile. Winds should gradually weaken overnight as the shortwave and stronger flow aloft move quickly northeastward. To the south and east, monsoonal moisture will support scattered thunderstorms across portions of central and northeastern NV. Along the northwestern fringe of the monsoonal plume, model soundings show initially dry sub-cloud layers greater than 2km deep supporting dry strikes over receptive fuels. Storm coverage and PWATs are forecast to gradually increase through the day, supporting wetter storms. However, the potential for a few drier strikes initially within receptive fuels necessitates continuation of the IsoDryT area across north/northeastern NV. ...Southwest KS and the Panhandles... Beneath the center of a strong and sustained mid-level anticyclone, a very warm airmass should develop across portions of the southern and central High Plains this afternoon. Low-level southerly flow bolstered by a weak lee trough/decaying cold front may support gusty winds to 15-25 mph coincident with surface RH below 20%. Ongoing drought and excessive heat (temps greater than 100F) will favor curing of short-hour fuels and the possibility of Elevated fire weather conditions. ...Southern Cascades... A gradual increase in low-level westerly flow is forecast today as mid and upper-level winds strengthen with the passing trough. Hi-res guidance indicates at least localized potential for winds greater than 15 mph through terrain gaps and in the immediate lee of the southern Cascades. Dry and warm conditions with humidity below 30% may coincide with these gustier winds, supporting locally elevated fire weather conditions across portions of OR. However, uncertainty on the areal coverage of sustained elevated fire weather conditions remains high, precluding any Elevated delineations. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1103 AM CDT Fri Jul 15 2022 Valid 151630Z - 161200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM CENTRAL MONTANA INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA... ...SUMMARY... Scattered strong to severe storms, including a risk of damaging winds and hail, will be possible across parts of the northern Rockies and High Plains today and tonight. ...MT/ND... Morning water vapor imagery shows a well-defined shortwave trough moving across eastern OR. This feature and its associated mid-level speed max will track across ID into MT this afternoon. Large-scale lift ahead of the trough is already resulting in scattered thunderstorms over the mountains of western MT, which will spread eastward into central/eastern MT this afternoon and evening. Hot surface temperatures in the 90s or low 100s are expected, yielding a deeply mixed boundary layer with 500-1000 J/kg of MLCAPE. This will support high-based convection capable of locally damaging wind gusts. This activity will likely spread into western ND after dark. Winds aloft weaken with southward extent, but at least isolated strong to severe wind gusts will be possible into parts of northern/eastern WY and western NE/SD this afternoon. ..Hart/Kerr.. 07/15/2022 Read more