A LARGE AREA FROM INDIANA AND OHIO INTO
KENTUCKY...TENNESSEE...MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA TODAY AND TONIGHT...
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG...LONG-TRACK TORNADOES OVER CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN INDIANA...SOUTHERN AND WESTERN OHIO...MUCH OF KENTUCKY AND
NORTHERN TENNESSEE TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ALABAMA
NORTHERN GEORGIA
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA
ALL OF KENTUCKY
MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN OHIO
MUCH OF TENNESSEE
ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI INTO CENTRAL/NORTHERN ALABAMA AND NORTHERN
GEORGIA...NORTHWARD INTO OHIO.
A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO SPREAD OUT OF
LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE LOWER OHIO
VALLEY...IN ADVANCE OF A DEEPENING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOW
OVER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. THIS SURFACE LOW WILL TRACK NORTHEASTWARD
ACROSS INDIANA AND INTO LOWER MICHIGAN BY THIS EVENING...ALLOWING
THE MOIST/UNSTABLE AIR MASS TO REPLACE COOL AIR CURRENTLY OVER
NORTHERN KENTUCKY...INDIANA AND OHIO. SEVERE STORMS HAVE ALREADY
DEVELOPED ALONG THE COLD FRONT OVER SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI AND
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND WILL INTENSIFY AS THEY DEVELOP EASTWARD
TODAY. WIND SHEAR PROFILES WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY STRONG AND
FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE WINDS. THE STRENGTH OF THE
STEERING CURRENTS WILL ALLOW FOR FAST MOVING AND LONG TRACKED
TORNADOES...WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. THE MAIN THREAT AREA
WILL BE OVER THE HIGH RISK AREA...INCLUDING MUCH OF SOUTHERN
INDIANA...MUCH OF KENTUCKY...NORTHERN TENNESSEE...AND SOUTHWESTERN
OHIO.
ANOTHER AREA OF SEVERE STORMS IS ALSO EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL/NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA INTO
NORTHERN GEORGIA...ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. CONDITIONS
WILL NOT BE QUITE AS FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES COMPARED TO FARTHER
NORTH IN THE HIGH RISK AREA...BUT STORMS WILL BECOME NUMEROUS WITH
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES STILL POSSIBLE.
STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE MONITORING THIS POTENTIALLY
VERY DANGEROUS 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.
..JEWELL.. 03/02/2012
