SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0643 AM CST Sat Dec 02 2023
Valid 021300Z - 031200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE COAST OF
THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND A SMALL PART OF SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA...
...SUMMARY...
Isolated severe storms are possible over parts of the north-central/
northeastern Gulf Coast region.
...Synopsis...
A mid/upper-level, synoptic-scale trough, with associated cyclonic
flow traversed by several shortwave perturbations/vorticity lobes --
is expected to move eastward from its present position over the
Rocky Mountain States. Leading/basal shortwave troughs -- now
apparent in moisture-channel imagery over western CO and NM -- are
forecast to merge today, reaching portions of KS, OK and north TX by
00Z. The combined perturbation then should eject northeastward
across parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Mid-South regions by
12Z tomorrow. As that occurs, 500-mb heights in the extensive field
of southwesterlies over the Gulf Coast States will fall slightly,
with a somewhat tightening gradient.
At the surface, 11Z analysis showed a cold front extending from near
TOL southwestward over southern IN, western parts of KY/TN,
southwestern MS, between LCH-ARA, then over the northwestern Gulf to
southeast of BRO. The front is expected to drift southeastward
through the period, reaching eastern TN, northeastern/west-central
AL, and south-central parts of MS/LA by 00Z. Substantial convective
potential should remain prefrontal.
...North-central/northeastern Gulf Coast region...
Isolate severe thunderstorms, with brief strong-severe gusts and/or
potential for a couple tornadoes, are possible over the outlook area
through this evening. Potential appears relatively maximized
nearest the coast, where a few severe cells may move inland from the
Gulf.
Although the direct fields of large-scale ascent/DCVA related to the
southern Rockies/Plains troughing will miss the region well to the
northwest, the peripheral response discussed above should increase
deep shear slightly over the region throughout the day. In the
absence of a substantial, closer perturbation to elicit near-surface
mass response, the persistent warm-advection/moisture-transport
regime will continue, but with weakening and veering flow in the
lower boundary layer after this morning. This should reduce
hodograph size overall today, with the possible exception of
localized boundary effects.
The greatest low-level shear will be inland this morning, where
stable to moist-adiabatic near-surface lapse rates are present,
while instability should be most favorable over the Gulf, with some
modified marine air spreading inland this evening and overnight when
low-level wind profiles are more unidirectional than at present.
The extensive area of overland clouds/precip is expected to persist
for at lest a few more hours, and imparts considerable uncertainty/
conditionality on sufficiency of destabilization to support severe
potential with inland extent. Unconditional severe probabilities
accordingly decrease inland, and appear greatest over portions of
southwestern AL and the FL Panhandle where 500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE and
40-450-kt effective-shear magnitudes should be present.
..Edwards/Kerr.. 12/02/2023
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