A major severe weather outbreak is currently underway for portions of the Deep South from Louisiana up through Tennessee, extending east from the Mississippi to western Alabama. As you can see in this satellite image, there are numerous supercell thunderstorms with high cloud tops piercing into the tropopause, indicative of extremely strong updrafts. Low level helicity (a measure of the vorticity and spin imparted on the air) is also high, along with abundant moisture and convective available potential energy (CAPE) will continue to fuel dangerous storms capable of spawning multiple tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and severe hail.
Major severe weather outbreak over the Deep South viewed from space
After a beautiful start to the work week, we are looking at a wet and cool mid-week before things clear up this coming weekend.
A low pressure center that is currently pounding the Midwest and Lower Mississippi Valley with hail, tornadoes, and severe storms will slowly move into the Great Lakes region. Once it does so, a strong area of high pressure situated over Quebec will prevent the low from making steady progress.
Therefore, Tuesday-Thursday will each see a chance for rain showers, in particular on Wednesday when a warm front associated with the aforementioned low pressure center makes its approach towards our region. Due to the long duration of the precipitation event and the possibility of heavy downpours Wednesday, there may be some localized small stream and urban street flash flooding.
Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will be quite cool with highs only in the mid 50s caused by onshore winds from the cool Atlantic waters flowing from the southeast and east ahead of the warm front. Once the warm front passes through on Wednesday night, temperatures will jump dramatically as we enter the warm sector behind the warm front and ahead of an advancing cold front. High temperatures Thursday could easily top 70.
A persistent low pressure center is forecast to track very slowly across the Great Lakes this week.
Friday should see an end to this period of active weather as the high pressure over Canada weakens and finally allows this low to lift out of the area. Highs will be pleasant in the mid to upper 60s.
