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| This is just one forecast model, but all the predictions for today call for a horrendous line of storms in the South that will include straight line winds of up to 80 mph and the risk of tornadoes. |
By far the biggest problem today is in a large area centered on Mississippi and extending into surrounding states.
A squall line was already causing some severe storms in eastern Texas and Oklahoma this morning, and this line will intensify into a powerhouse that you will probably see on the news later today or tomorrow.
There's already been some damage. I saw news of at least one house burning in Oklahoma due to wildfires from yesterday. And social media this morning has images of what looks like tornado damage in Arkansas.
Usually, afternoons and evenings are the peak times for the most powerful storms, and that will be the case today. However, ominously, the squall line had already prompted a large tornado watch over most of Arkansas, northern Louisiana, northeastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma early this morning.
This line will be serious to say the least as it produces a wall of thunderstorms, some with winds gusting to 80 mph or more. Worse, there's plenty of spin in the atmosphere to stir up tornadoes, some of which might be strong and long lasting this afternoon and tonight.
As the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi notes, there might not be as many tornadoes as during last week's outbreak of dangerous weather. But more people will be affected by damaging storms due to the expected nearly solid line of storms bearing powerful straight-line winds today.
One weird aspect of this system is the strong winds out ahead of the squall line. It's usually breezy ahead of these things, but this is more intense. Winds in and near Mississippi could gust to 60 mph well before any thunderstorms pester them.
They'll have scattered tree and power line damage hours before any storms make things exponentially worse.
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| A large area of the South remains under a risk of very severe thunderstorms and tornadoes today. |
Further north, in the central Appalachians, strong winds will create a fire hazard today as forests haven't leafed out yet. Strong March sun has dried the forest floors, so the winds today could stir up some fire trouble. We also see a nasty risk of wildfires in Florida, southern Texas and along the western Texas/Oklahoma border.
In Michigan, it's the opposite problem. An ice storm is ongoing in northern parts of that state, just to keep the weird motif of the entire storm going.
Tomorrow, there's a lower risk of severe weather but some thunderstorms could cause damaging winds in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.
VERMONT EFFECTS
As has been the case with so many storms lately, the Green Mountain State will lead a charmed life with this expansive storm system. In other words, it'll affect us, but just not all that badly.
It was nice and clear, but cold early this morning. Most of us were in the teens at dawn, but perennial cold spot Saranac Lake, New York was at a big fat 0 degrees.
You'll see it cloud up pretty quickly today, and by evening, there could be a little light snow, rain, or mixed precipitation coming in. That'll be a warm front that will race through overnight.
When you get up tomorrow morning, it will suddenly be much warmer than it's been, especially if you're west of the Green Mountains.
It'll be a warm-ish breezy to windy day Thursday with highs near 50 east and the upper 50s west. There could be a few showers around, but I think most of the day will be dry until you start getting into the late afternoon and especially evening.
Showers, some possibly with brief downpours will come through with a cold front Thursday night. We could even hear a few rumbles of thunder.
Then, from Saturday onward into the middle of next week, we end up with near average weather for this time of year. Saturday might be a little on the cool side, but it won't be nearly as cold as we just had. Highs in the 40s doesn't sound awful, does it?
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