Central US bracing for major storm system that may cause tornadoes, significant flooding

[Omaha Steve]

Source: ABC News

By DANIEL MANZO

Residents of the central U.S., brace yourselves.

A major storm system is developing in the central U.S. and it will bring several high impact weather events across much of the region, including the potential for a major flash flood event Saturday.

Flood watches Saturday morning have been posted from northern Texas to western Pennsylvania, and includes many metropolitan areas such as Dallas, Little Rock, Nashville, Louisville and Pittsburgh.

On the colder side of this system, winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings have been posted for snow and ice accumulation. Minneapolis is in the path for the brunt of this developing snow event.

FULL story at link below.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/central-us-bracing-major-storm-system-significant-flooding/story?id=53326717

[BigmanPigman]

1. Is this normal weather for this time of year

in this area?

In Southern CA we have had extremes in temps this year and each year it is more obvious. It will be 15 degrees above normal for two weeks followed by two weeks of 15 degrees below normal. Climate Change will be bring us extremes in weather like a year of floods from too much rained followed by years of drought. Right now we are 75% below average rainfall for this date in the season.

[rurallib]

2. yes - late February late March in this area is the time of change

and with that change usually comes some significant damaging weather.
The south to about Missouri's Northern border can expect some pretty violent weather during this period.
The northern midwest states gat some heavy snows and a lot of icing this time of year. With warmer temps of the coming spring the clouds hold more water, thus more rain or snow.

I am in Iowa and we have been known to have a few wild blizzards this time of year. The difference now is that what used to fall as snow here is now often rain or ice.

So this is actually pretty normal

[theophilus]

3. Some normal some not. Climate change is involved, imho......

Here in the Little Rock, Arkansas area we have experienced several days of rain. Records have been broken. The ground is totally saturated and now this line of heavy thunderstorms is going to come through and compound the flooding problem. Our temps are above normal and have been on many occasions. This is not simply "normal" conditions playing themselves out. The spring is a time of unsettled weather, true, but there is more going on and, unfortunately, people are not accepting the truth about climate. Sad.

[LiberalArkie]

4. I feel your pain in Little Rock

I am out on Thornburg Mountain west of LR.. I do not worry about flooding at all. It does get interesting though when the tornados dance around the mountains.

[moriah]

7. Watch just issued for both of us then...

Stay safe. I'm in midtown, near Williams Magnet. We've had a few small ones hit nearby neighborhoods but ours has been lucky.

[moriah]

8. Tornado watch for all three of us just issued then. ;)

Sorry, missed you were in Pulaski too.

Edit to add:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0004.html

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 4
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1100 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of
Central and Southern Arkansas
Northwest Louisiana
Southeast Oklahoma
Northeast Texas

* Effective this Saturday morning and evening from 1100 AM until
600 PM CST.

* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
Widespread damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
to 75 mph possible
Isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorms will intensify over northeast Texas,
spreading into parts of LA and AR this afternoon. Supercells
capable of tornadoes and damaging winds are possible throughout the
watch area.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles
north and south of a line from 45 miles south southwest of Paris TX
to 55 miles northeast of Pine Bluff AR. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Old saying: "March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb." . . . . . nt

[hatrack]

9. Not unheard of, but this is early (oh, and snow in Las Vegas, 10" of rain in AR)

This is March a month early.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

12. about a month early here

Tornado warnings less than an hour's drive from me as I type.

This would still be winter, here, not so many years ago.
My mother was fond of saying, "February borrows 9 days from March and April pays them back." I think March and April have flipped in that transaction.

[The Genealogist]

15. We have some crazy weather in Missouri this time of year

From about late February through the end of May, we get a lot of wild temperature swings, and when moisture and atmospheric instability increase, we get some real nasty storms. So far this month, we've had some particularly big temperature swings. Temps will go up to as high as the 70 or so, then the next day it doesn't get above freezing and ices, then a day or two later it'll be back up in the 60s. Kind of like a roller coaster!

[BigmanPigman]

16. I have already seen weather related products being advertised

on TV in San Diego and their new (new to me anyway) advertising pitch is, "Have the recent extreme swings in the weather taken its toll on your heating and air conditioning systems.....?". Too bad the Moron and his "stable geniuses" don't publicly acknowledge this and prepare the country for it. We will now become a a follower instead of a leader in the world in many areas, science is one of them.

[riversedge]

6. we just had 4-5 inches yesterday. expect about as much tonight uga uga

[Bayard]

10. Tornado watch for those of us in KY tonight

Our runoff pond is filled to the top and overflowing into the driveway. Ducks and geese are having a ball!

[davsand]

11. We had flooding earlier in the week.

Counties north and east of us have been designated disaster areas. I had to take a "flood day" Tuesday because our street was flooded with about 2 feet of water. It was so bad the water was backing up out of the storm drains and we had geysers all over town. We have volunteer fire rescue here (yes, it is a small town!) and they were using their personal boats to help evacuate people from their homes. I joked that the Farmboy Navy had mobilized. Most of our water receded within about 48 hours, thankfully. It came up overnight and took two days to leave...

Rivers and ditches are full right now, and the ground is saturated. We have a forecast for more rain tonight as part of this system. Buying groceries today in case we get flooded again.


Laura

[Hortensis]

14. Interesting times. Hope mother nature

cuts you, and your town, a break this time.

[NickB79]

13. Snow's falling in the Twin Cities now

We just had 5" two days ago, and we're supposed to get 6-8" more tonight.

Just a normal Feb. day here 😀