The Good Friday Severe Weather Outbreak of April 10, 2009

Fresh Snow and Temperature Outlook Ahead of Christmas Day

If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 135 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 630 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING FROM 630 PM UNTIL 100 AM EDT. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPARTANBURG SOUTH CAROLINA TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MACON GEORGIA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU5). REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 132...WW 133...WW 134... DISCUSSION...A BROKEN BAND OF SUPERCELLS IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST AND SPREAD EWD/ESEWD FROM CENTRAL AL/N GA INTO CENTRAL GA AND UPSTATE SC THROUGH EARLY TONIGHT. LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE DOES DECREASE WITH EWD EXTENT FROM GA INTO SC...BUT GRADUAL MOISTENING AND STEEP LAPSE RATES WILL HELP MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY FOR LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY TONIGHT. THE TORNADO THREAT WILL BE GREATEST ALONG THE RESIDUAL OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM NE GA INTO UPSTATE SC...WHERE LOW-LEVEL SHEAR AND MOISTURE WILL BE MAXIMIZED. AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27040. ...THOMPSON