NOAA WARNS OF SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK

April 5, 2001 — A significant severe weather outbreak, including tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds, is expected to occur Friday afternoon and Friday night across parts of the Central and Southern Plains, according to the latest forecast from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. The areas most likely to have severe storms include south central and southeast Nebraska, central and eastern Kansas and central and eastern Oklahoma. (Click NOAA image of tornado for larger view.)

"This is developing into a potentially dangerous situation," said Dan McCarthy, warning coordination meteorologist for the SPC. He urged people in the areas listed to review severe weather safety rules, prepare shelters and monitor radio, television and NOAA Weather Radio for updates from NOAA's National Weather Service.

"Several factors are expected to come together Friday creating the potential for severe weather," McCarthy said. A very strong upper level system is forecast to move from southern California and northwest Mexico into Arizona and New Mexico Thursday night, then northeast into the Central Plains states Friday.

A strong cold front will accompany this system moving east-northeast from eastern Colorado and eastern New Mexico into the Central and Southern Plains states. A strong jet stream of 120 to 140 mph is expected over this region, enhancing the possibility of tornadoes. The air ahead of this system is expected to be very warm, moist and unstable, which will also aid in setting up an environment favorable for tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center — Updated Forecasts

NOAA's National Weather Service

FAST FACTS ABOUT TORNADOES

Researchers Developing Radar of the Future

Storm Prediction Center Helps Communities Better Prepare for Threats; Center's Two-Day Outlooks Now Rate Tornado, Hail and Wind Risk in Severe Thunderstorms

Tornado Statistics from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center

StormReady Program

NOAA's National Severe Storms Lab

All About Tornadoes, including the Fujita Scale

Tornadoes...Nature's Most Violent Storms

Vortex: Unraveling the Secrets

Tornado Photos Online

The following National Weather Service Web sites are available to provide up-to-the-minute winter weather information.

Current storm watches, warnings and temperatures across the United States

National forecasts that extend from three to 14 days in advance

Map showing the latest conditions over the United States

NOAA's Weather Page — includes latest satellite images and weather maps

NOAA's National Weather Service Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services

NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center

NOAA Weather Radio

Media Contacts:
Keli Tarp, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, Norman, Okla., (405) 366-0451 or Pat Slattery, NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region, (816) 426-7621 ext. 621

 

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