Strong Storms Breaking the High Heat

Friday Midday Update:

The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded most of the Local 6 area to an ENHANCED RISK of severe storms today. The threats still include damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
The timing still looks pretty accurate according to the forecast images below. We anticipate scattered storms to develop and move east by early afternoon. A more organized line of possibly severe storms should develop over Missouri by early evening and push east before midnight tonight.

Thursday Evening Update:

Periods of high heat and humidity have been with us for a couple weeks now peaking today before showers and thunderstorms begin spreading into the Local 6 area late tonight and throughout the day on Friday. A cold front will push south across our area and bring lower humidity and cooler temperatures to get the weekend started.

A few strong storms may skirt our area Thursday Night then redevelop by midday on Friday and bring along the threat of damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado. An additional threat is flash flooding. Our ground is fairly saturated so heavy rainfall may collect quickly in low lying areas. Any given thunderstorm may produce 1-2" of rainfall. Total rainfall may reach beyond that amount but the duration of rain should not be prolonged.
Below is a general model forecast for what may unfold tomorrow. I believe showers and storms will be possible anytime throughout the day but a final push of stronger storms is looking more likely by Friday evening. Be alert to quickly changing conditions throughout the day and make sure to enable your mobile alerts and weather radio to receive warnings in the event that you may be in the path of these storms.

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Mid-South Winter Outlook 2023-2024

Getting a general idea of what the upcoming Winter months (December, January and February) will look like for our region can be heavily influenced by El Nino and La Nina episodes. Global and oceanic forecasters have observed El Nino conditions in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and an EL NINO ADVISORY has been issued. The episode is expected to continue through Spring (March, April and May) in the Northern Hemisphere. Model projections are pointing to a strong, possibly very strong episode occurrence. (Current Sea Surface Temps warming off S. America) Meteorologists look at monthly data from Dec - Jan - Feb to determine a winter season average, or define that period of time as Meteorological Winter. An average winter in the Local 6 area shows an average temperature of 37 degrees, average precipitation total of 12.18" and average snowfall of 8.4". The National Weather Service in Paducah has historical data that covers 7 of the past strongest El Nino episodes in the past

Planting Zones Heading North

As our global climate changes, so does our planting zones, helping us determine which flowers/shrubs/trees are hardy in specific areas. The Local 6 area has always been split by 2-3 growing zones so placement becomes very important to those in the agricultural community. The image below represents the average over the past 30 years. Climate Central published the following information: "What kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees you’ll find at your local nursery depends on your climate — how warm it tends to get in summer, and how cold in winter. A plant that’s happy in Wisconsin might be miserable in Alabama, and vice versa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has formalized these differences into " hardiness zones " — strips of similar climate that run more or less east-to-west (except in the high mountains), where particular plants should do especially well. But as the planet warms under its thickening blanket of greenhouse gases, those zones are shifting northward. Th

Update: Impacts From Tropical Depression Bill

Friday AM Update Heavy rain still appears to be our greatest concern as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill pass directly over the Local 6 area throughout the day today. A Flash Flood WATCH continues for Southern Illinois, SE Missouri, and the Ohio River counties in Western Kentucky through Saturday. Here is a look at today's forecast concerning rainfall totals from the Weather/Hydrological Prediction Center. In any given area, 2-4 inches of rain will be possible. Low-lying areas are most prone to flash flooding. Showers and storms will increase in coverage and intensity during the day on Friday. Keep preparedness and awareness in mind as heavy rain moves in. Locate areas of higher ground in the event you need to retreat there. Never drive across flooded roadways. Keep children from playing in flood waters. Water depth and swiftness is difficult to determine. Below is the latest Flash Flooding Potential Briefing from the Paducah National Weather Service.

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