Rukavina's Extreme Weather and Climate Blog

THURSDAY IS A WEATHER AUTHORITY ALERT DAY Two rounds of strong, potentially severe storms will be possible Thursday as a particularly vigorous low pressure system heads from the Central Plains to the Upper Midwest. Storms traveling across Missouri and Arkansas late Wednesday night will enter the Local 6 area before sunrise. Most of these storms will remain below severe limits but could prompt a few warnings before exiting the area by 9 AM. The most concerning time period for severe storms with a tornado risk arrives after noon and we expect a line of storms to develop over Southern Illinois extending south into Kentucky and Tennessee. They will move east by 6-7 PM. Given the expected nature of this bigger storm system, widespread severe storms will be likely if we get any sunshine after the morning round of storms passes. Here are a few graphics detailing the risks and Storm Prediction Center outlooks for severe storms...

It was inevitable. I've been basking in the early warmth of Spring just like many of you out there for weeks now. I've also been stressing that until we get entirely through the month of March, snow is NOT out of the question. With that being said it's going to be a wild weather ride for the next 7 days. We're becoming quite confident that snow will impact much of the area Saturday into Sunday. Mixing with rain for the onset, the switch-over to snow will take place by Saturday night. The GFS computer model (pictured below) seems to be the most reasonable guidance as of Wednesday night. It is a nice middle ground projection and other computer models are starting to show guidance closer to it's output. The greatest chance of accumulating snow will reside over the Ozarks of Missouri then we should see a swath of snow into the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky and down across NW Tennessee.  Click to enlarge. Credit: WxBell Snow is the least of our concerns thou...

Credit: Chris Conley, Spotter  A well-forecast severe weather event unfolded Tuesday night starting in Southeast Missouri then blowing east into Southern Illinois, The Paducah National Weather Service along with local media gave people in Perryville, MO the early alarm that a large tornado was barreling their way. Storm spotter Chris Conley captured power flashes (right) from the violent tornado hitting power lines as the storm traveled from Perryville across the Mississippi River into Rockwood, IL after claiming one man's life on Interstate 55 and injuring 12 in Perryville. Credit: John Humphress, Spotter The supercell thunderstorm parent to this tornado was only getting started. Confirmation of a tornado and a trail of damage was reported in Rockwood, Ava, Elkville, Christopher, Buckner, Enfield and Crossfield, IL. Storm spotter John Humphress captured the wedge tornado (left) that struck Crossville where a man was killed trying to take shelter. Humphress recal...