Heavy Rain Earlier; More on the Way...
I've been watching and listening to Birmingham's ABC 33/40 continuous tornado coverage this afternoon. I give credit to James Spann and the ABC 33/40 weather team. They've made and kept a promise for the past 10 years that if a tornado warning is issued for a county or counties in their viewing area, they will come on the air and stay on until the threat has diminished. IMHO, they are probably one of the best, if not the best TV weather crew in America. Search YouTube for "ABC 33/40," and you'll find two excellent tornado coverage videos from the late 1990's and early 2000's.
Skies have been overcast all day, with the exception of a peek or two of sun. Rain arrived around 10 this morning, and lasted through the lunch hour. As advertised, it was heavy at times. Showers continued after round one. Round two is on its way with heavy rain and thunderstorms. A FEW MAY BE SEVERE, with high winds and hail possible. I feel that the atmosphere has just enough "charge" to it. Believe it or not, some clouds hanging around the mountains have actually been rotating, due to the swirling winds aloft.
Concerning the severe threat: NE TN is not "under the gun" for a major severe event, but we are most certainly NOT out of the threat. Folks toward Knoxville and points south and west have a better chance for severe weather. KNOXVILLE SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER CAREFULLY. Knoxville is not necessarily under a major threat of tornadoes, but severe weather is likely. A severe thunderstorm CAN drop a tornado without notice.
The forecast for tonight is for moderate to heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms, some severe. Rainfall should generally be 1"-1.5", but some locations that receive a strong to severe thunderstorm may see 2"+ of rain. With gusty winds already in place, winds inside a thunderstorm will be enhanced. Small hail is also possible. This should all begin a little later tonight, and end sometime tomorrow morning. Your forecast is below.
VALLEY LOCALES, INCLUDING TRI-CITIES AND ASHEVILLE:
TONIGHT
Windy with rain and thunderstorms, some severe. The rain may be heavy at times. Cloudy with a low around 43F. Winds from the SW a 15-25 MPH, gusting over 30 MPH. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall up to 2 inches possible.
FRIDAY
Early clouds and showers will give way to mostly sunny skies later in the day. High 56F. Winds from the W at 15-25 MPH, gusting over 30 MPH. Chance of rain 30%.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear. Low 34F. Winds from the SW at 5-10 MPH.
FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINOUS LOCALES, INCLUDING ERWIN, FLAG POND, BOONE, MOUNTAIN CITY, AND TRADE:
TONIGHT
Windy with rain and thunderstorms, some severe. The rain may be heavy at times. Cloudy with a low around 40F, as low as 37 higher up. Winds from the SW at 20-30 MPH, gusting over 40 MPH. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall up to 2 inches possible.
FRIDAY
Early clouds and showers will give way to mostly sunny skies later in the day. High 53F. Winds from the W at 20-30 MPH, gusting over 35 MPH. Chance of rain 30%.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear. Low 32F; as low as 28 higher up. Winds from the SW at 5-10 MPH.
WEEKEND WX THOUGHTS
Saturday will be cooler than Friday by a few degrees. Sunny skies and wind should dominate. Sunday will be quite a bit colder. The mountainous communities may not get out of the 30's! Flurries are possible as well Sunday.
NWS ADVISORIES:
*A high wind warning is in effect for Tazewell County in SW VA.
*A flood warning is in effect for most of NW SC.*
*A wind advisory is in effect for mountainous E TN, all of W NC, and parts of SW VA.*
*A flash flood watch is in effect for all of E KY.*
*A flood watch is in effect for extreme NW NC and parts of SW VA.
If you must travel tonight, please be careful!
3/1/07-5:55 PM
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