Upgraded Risk and Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch #311 was just issued for our area
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0311.html

 Tornado Watch #311 states this:
TORNADOES…HAIL TO 3.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

DISCUSSION…VERY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH MLCAPES AOA 3000 J/KG AND LITTLE REMAINING INHIBITION ARE IN PLACE AHEAD OF COLD FRONT ACROSS NRN TX/SRN OK.  THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY DURING THE AFTERNOON ALONG/AHEAD OF COLD FRONT AND THE DRY LINE EXTENDING SWD IN NRN TX.  MDT/STG DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS INCLUDING THREAT OF VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES.

Earlier this morning the chance of severe weather was a slight risk and it was upgraded to a moderate risk this afternoon.

Big Storms Heading this way

Earlier around 6ish they posted a tornado watch #224 for our area. They are talking about Golf Ball size hail, damaging winds and possible tornado or two.

2 counties out there is a tornado warning right now for rotation and there are some reports that there is damage as well. Local media came on and showed the projected path and it’s coming right at us. Might have more hail like we did last Thursday night.

I will keep the blog updated as much as possible…

If your in this area, watch the sky!

UPDATE:
Wow I don’ think I have seen this much Lightning in a really long time.  It was insane.  I hope my video I took worked out.  I have never edited video but I will try and see if I can get something posted..  It was nuts.  We escaped the hail at least so far and the really high winds.

Severe Weather - Moderate to Slight Risk Tonight

Looks like we are just outside the moderate risk area tonight but still in the slight risk. Last thursday we were in a slight risk and had marble sized hail for at least 5 minutes straight.

nws.noaa.gov graphical outlook

Here is the Day 1 Hazardous Outlook from noaa.gov:
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS FROM WEST
TO EAST TODAY. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE NORTH OF A LINE FROM
LAMPASAS...TO WACO..TO ATHENS. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE STORMS NORTH OF A LINE FROM BRECKENRIDGE TO GAINESVILLE. THE
BEST POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL COME LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. THERE IS ALSO AN ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT
IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA.

Storm Damage

After I left the Dallas, Fort Worth area for Seattle on last Wed., The metroplex took a beating. Various tornado warned storms ripped through the area. First of all our house did not have any damage (thank goodness) however our friends down in Alvarado did not escape entirely.

Here are a couple of pictures they took and emailed me. It’s pretty wild how the sign is actually under the car. In addition to these pictures they lost both of the storage sheds. There neighbors however lost all their windows.

Storm Damage

Storm Damage

Disappointed

Yeah I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.  For the most part it’s really all my fault for not doing anything about it, but what can you do?

You try really hard.  You get all prepared.  You get all excited.  Then nothing!

Yes the storms yesterday have me disappointed today.  But like I said, it’s my own fault.  I could have chased some.  I could have driven up to 2 hours away yesterday and watched a couple really good looking storms.  Hopefully one day I will have the chance to go storm chasing and see a tornado or two.

I told my wife before we moved here that was going to be one of my goals is to get some really good storms and some tornados.  Now almost 5 years in Texas and still nothing.  Now don’t get me wrong, I have seen some pretty good storm setups and storms, but not quite what my goal is.

Spring is still early and plenty of time left.

Tornado Watch #156 Posted

http://spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0156.html
Just issued..

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON FROM 555 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

Between the tornado watch issued earlier and this one, we are on the fence. Local media states our turn will come later tonight..

Just have to keep watching..

Tornado Watch #153

http://spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0153.html

Looks like we are 1 county outside the edge of this tornado watch. With all the discussion going on, I’m sure we will be under one they way this storm is moving. It is still early on though. Local media mentioned storm initiation about 6pm to 7pm. However sometimes they are wrong so I like to check out what noaa.gov says.

This watch comes from Mesoscale Discussion #540
http://spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0540.html

Tornado Warned Storms *Radar*

Here is a couple of radar shots of the Tornado Warned Storm that was closest to my house.  Weather Radio was saying a couple of homes in Godley (on the radar) were hit and destroyed, I guess the news will show that tonight if true.

** click for bigger image **
Tornado Warning Radar

Tornado Warning Radar

Tornado Watch #148

http://spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0148.html

Tornado watch #148 was just issued for our area today till 9pm.  Radar is indicating clear skies and some storms starting to fire out west..

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 200 PM UNTIL 900 PM CDT.
   
TORNADOES…HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

DISCUSSION…SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN DEVELOPING ALONG SURFACE DRYLINE OVER NORTH CENTRAL TX IN THE NEXT HOUR.  THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY IN ENVIRONMENT OF HIGH CAPE VALUES AND FAVORABLE VERTICAL SHEAR.  SUPERCELLS
CAPABLE OF VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED.  THREAT WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING.