NWS Louisville Doppler Radar - Severe Storms January 2, 2006

Tropical Moisture Brings Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall to the Southwest; Strong to Locally Severe Storms on the Plains

Heavy rain and flash flooding are possible across portions of the Southwest through Friday, where Flood Watches are in effect. Strong to locally severe thunderstorms are possible today across portions of the Plains. A tropical wave is causing heavy rainfall in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which may cause urban and small stream flooding and landslides today. Read More >

NWS Doppler Radar (WSR-88D) Example Products

NWS Louisville reflectivity images of supercell thunderstorms over Hardin, northern Hart, and western Larue counties in central Kentucky on January 2, 2006. The radar is at Ft. Knox at the top of the images. Heavy rain and hail occurred from many of the storms. A tornado also developed from the cell in central Hardin. The storm was non-tornadic in the far left image, but a short time later had a tornado on the ground at the small red dot in the storm's hook echo near Rineyville (near left image).

This event occurred in early January. Severe weather and tornadoes can occur in any month of the year across the Ohio Valley, and is referred to as "cool season severe weather." If enough warm, moist air is drawn northward from the Gulf of America ahead of a strong low pressure system to the west, then severe storms can erupt which are supported by moderate or strong wind shear in the atmosphere.