Australian Severe Weather Forum

Tornadoes possible across East TX, LA, southeast OK, and western AR



A powerful late fall season storm system is plowing across the Central U.S. at this time with not only winter storm conditions across the Central Plains to the northwest of the surface low, but also dangerous severe weather this afternoon and overnight in the warm sector.  An incredible low level jet resides over eastern Oklahoma and Texas east to Arkansas and Louisiana, with 70 knot 850 mb flow common to the east of the cold front currently surging across central Texas.  CAPE values are in the 2000-3000 J/kg, which is huge for this time of year and the relatively low sun angle, and in combination with the intense low-level jet, 0-1 km EHI values are exceeding 7-8, especially over East Texas into Louisiana where clearing has occurred this afternoon.  As of around 1:30 pm CDT, tornado warnings have already been issued for two supercells in northern Louisiana exhibiting very strong low-level rotation.  I'm thinking this will be a long night for people to the east of the cold front, especially over East Texas, southern Arkansas, and Louisiana, with several tornado reports likely by morning.  If I wasn't being dominated by the Swine Flu here in Michigan, I would definitely be chasing this event. 


         

http://www.tornadovideos.net/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1061-tornadoes-possible-across-east-tx-la-southeast-ok-and-western-ar
         

Tornadoes reported in Shreveport, LA



Tornadic supercells are exploding from east Texas into central Arkansas, in association with the dynamic system impacting the central U.S. Tornadoes have been reported in Camden, AR as well as within the Shreveport, LA city limits. Radar presentation suggests that the tornado that went through Shreveport may have been strong to violent, with a massive hook evident on reflectivity and very strong velocity signatures.





Tornado watches currently extend from eastern Oklahoma southeast to the Gulf Coast of Texas; this is a developing situation, and those in the watch areas should definitely monitor weather conditions closely, as the presence of strong shear over the watch areas raises the likelihood for any tornadoes that do form to be strong.



Also, on the western side of this system, heavy snow continues to pound the high plains into the Rockies! Check out these photos sent to us by Boulder, CO residents Kurt and Carrie Mulder! They received around 18" of snow, but mentioned that the snow compressed/compacted somewhat overnight.




         

http://www.tornadovideos.net/component/content/article/36-tornadoes/1062-tornadoes-reported-in-shreveport-la
         

Last week we had a tornado warning just a few miles west of here. No touch downs though, just some wind damage. Maybe that will be it until the spring...