TENNESSEE VALLEYS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG...LONG-TRACK TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE
OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ALABAMA
NORTHERN GEORGIA
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHERN INDIANA
KENTUCKY
EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
SOUTHWEST OHIO
TENNESSEE
WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM THE UPPER OHIO
VALLEY AND CENTRAL APPALACHIANS SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
A STRONG UPPER-LEVEL STORM SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE CENTER OVER KANSAS...OKLAHOMA...AND MISSOURI THIS MORNING
WILL MOVE QUICKLY NORTHEASTWARD TO LOWER MICHIGAN BY THIS
EVENING...WHILE A TRAILING COLD FRONT PROGRESSES EASTWARD INTO THE
OHIO/TENNESSEE VALLEYS. MOISTURE WILL SPREAD QUICKLY NORTHEASTWARD
FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES TO THE OHIO VALLEY BY THIS AFTERNOON IN
ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT...PROVIDING THE FUEL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION...WINDS AND ALL LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY ACROSS THE MODERATE RISK
AREA...SETTING THE STAGE FOR LONG-LIVED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
THE MOST DANGEROUS TORNADO RISK AREA IS EXPECTED FROM MIDDLE AND
EASTERN TENNESSEE NORTHWARD ACROSS KENTUCKY TO THE OHIO RIVER THIS
AFTERNOON...WHERE A FEW LONG-TRACK/DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES WILL BE
POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. FARTHER SOUTH
INTO MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA...ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORM DEVELOPMENT
IS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT NEAR AND AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT. THESE STORMS WILL SPREAD ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA AND NORTHERN GEORGIA THIS EVENING INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH AN ACCOMPANYING RISK FOR TORNADOES...DAMAGING
WINDS...AND LARGE HAIL.
STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE MONITORING THIS DEVELOPING
SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE
WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER
TODAY.
..THOMPSON.. 03/02/2012
