Storm Pictures- Starkville, MS

The line of thunderstorms has now moved east of Starkville.  We measured sustained winds of 30 MPH, with estimated gusts of 40 to 45 MPH along with a burst of heavy rain.  Small trees were reported down in Starkville. It looks like another storm moving northeast behind the line may impact Starkville within the next hour to hour and a half.  Expect another burst of rain along with strong winds, but it probably will not be as strong as the initial line.  Here are some pictures of the storm as it moved in:

Severe Weather Update- Starkville, MS

A tornado watch is now in effect until 11PM for Starkville.  Expect strong thunderstorms to move through between 430 and 5PM.  These storms will have strong winds in excess of 60 MPH and heavy rain.  The highest tornado threat will be in southern Mississippi and Alabama where there is a large amount of wind shear and instability.

This is the current radar image.  A line of thunderstorms just ahead of the cold front stretching from central Tennessee through Mississippi will continue to move east this afternoon.

Severe Weather Risk- Starkville, MS and Leesburg, VA

This the current severe weather outlook according to the Storm Prediction Center.  Areas highlighted in dark red have the highest risk of severe weather Monday afternoon.  As a cold front pushes east across the entire eastern U.S. during the afternoon, a line of thunderstorms will likely be associated with it.  Around Starkville a few thunderstorms may develop ahead of the line given the ample amount of moisture and moderate instability.  The greatest risk from thunderstorms tomorrow will be strong winds in excess of 60 MPH and heavy rain.  Tornadoes are possible but will not be too much of a threat due to the lack of wind shear.  Expect thunderstorms to move through during the afternoon, likely between 2 and 4PM.

There is also a risk for severe weather in Leesburg, however it will not be until after sunset.  Expect a line of strong thunderstorms to move through ahead of the cold front after sunset, mostly likely between 8 and 10PM.  These thunderstorms will also be capable of producing strong winds in excess of 60 MPH and heavy rain.  I will keep this updated as severe weather develops.

Forecast for Starkville, MS and Leesburg, VA

Starkville, MS

Overnight-  Increasing clouds and mild.  Low temperature around 68.

Monday-  Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon.  Some storms could be severe with strong winds and heavy rain.  High temperature around 78.

Monday night-  Mostly cloudy with scattered showers possible during the evening.  Becoming clear overnight and cooler with a low temperature around 52.

Tuesday-  Sunny and nice.  High temperature around 75.

Tuesday night-  Clear and cool with a low temperature around 49.

Wednesday-  Sunny and warm with a high temperature around 79.

Wednesday night-  Clear with a low temperature around 53.

Thursday-  Scattered clouds throughout the day with thunderstorms possible late in the day.  High temperature around 81.

Extended Forecast-  Showers and thunderstorms will be possible Friday as temperatures cool down to the lower 70s.  Sunshine will return for the weekend but temperatures will remain in the low 70s.

Leesburg, VA

Overnight-  Scattered clouds overnight and mild.  Low temperature around 58.

Monday-  Mostly sunny and very warm with thunderstorms developing during the evening.  High temperature around 87.

Monday night-  Showers and thunderstorms likely overnight.  Some storms may be strong early in the evening with strong winds and heavy rain.  Low temperature around 58.

Tuesday-  Mostly cloudy with scattered showers possible during the afternoon.  Breezy with winds gusting up to 25 MPH.  High temperature around 64.

Tuesday night-  Mostly clear and cooler with a low temperature around 46.

Wednesday-  Sunny and mild with a high temperature around 66.

Wednesday night-  Mostly clear with a low temperature around 43.

Thursday-  Mostly sunny with a high temperature around 69.

Extended Forecast-  Clouds will move in during the day Friday with highs around 70.  Showers will be possible Friday night and Saturday with highs in the mid 60s Saturday.  Rain will begin to clear out late Saturday leaving behind a few clouds and cooler temperatures Sunday with highs around 60.

Forecast for Starkville, MS and Leesburg, VA

Starkville, MS

Overnight-  Mostly cloudy and mild with a few sprinkles possible.  Low temperature around 64.

Friday-  Scattered clouds and sun.  High temperature around 85.

Friday night-  Scattered clouds and mild.  Low temperature around 65.

Saturday-  A few clouds in the morning with sunshine during the afternoon.  Hot with a high temperature around 90.

Saturday night-  Mostly clear with a low temperature around 67.

Sunday-  Mostly sunny with a few clouds during the afternoon.  Breezy with winds gusting up to 25 MPH.  Continued warm with a high temperature around 88.

Sunday night-  Increasing clouds with showers and thunderstorms likely late.  Storms will likely move through after 2AM as a squall line with heavy rain and strong winds.  Low temperature around 64.

Monday-  Showers possible during the morning with clearing during the afternoon.  High temperature around 81.

Extended Forecast-  Sunshine will continue through Tuesday with highs in the lower 80s.  Showers and thunderstorms will be possible again Wednesday and Thursday with highs around 80.

Leesburg, VA

Overnight-  Mostly cloudy with showers developing overnight.  Low temperature around 49.

Friday-  Rain likely for most of the day.  High temperature around 54.

Friday night-  Rain likely overnight.  Low temperature around 45.

Saturday-  Showers likely during the morning.  Remaining cloudy for the rest of the afternoon.  High temperature around 58.

Saturday night-  Mostly cloudy with a low temperature around 47.

Sunday-  Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm developing during the afternoon.  Warmer with a high temperature around 78.

Sunday night-  Mostly cloudy and mild with a low temperature around 62.

Monday-  Scattered clouds with showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon.  Warm with a high temperature around 84.

Extended Forecast-  Rain will finally end and sunshine mixed with scattered afternoon clouds will return Tuesday through Thursday.  High temperatures will be around 70 Tuesday and Wednesday, and in the upper 60s Thursday.

Forecast for Starkville, MS and Leesburg, VA

Starkville, MS

Overnight-  Mostly clear with a low temperature around 51.

Thursday-  Mostly sunny with a high temperature around 79.

Thursday night-  Scattered clouds overnight.  Mild with a low temperature around 62.

Friday-  Scattered clouds early with clearing throughout the day.  Warmer with a high temperature around 86.

Friday night-  Mostly clear and mild.  Low temperature around 65.

Saturday-  Mostly sunny and very warm.  High temperature around 88.

Saturday night-  Mostly clear and mild.  Low temperature around 67.

Sunday-  Mostly sunny with scattered clouds during the afternoon.  Continued warm with a high temperature around 87.

Extended Forecast-  Scattered showers and thunderstorms(some severe) will be possible Sunday night into Monday.  Highs will be in the lower 80s Monday.  Clear skies will return Tuesday and Wednesday with high temperatures around 80.

Leesburg, VA

Overnight-  Mostly clear with a low temperature around 44.

Thursday-  Increasing clouds throughout the afternoon.  Warm with a high temperature around 69.

Thursday night-  Cloudy with scattered showers developing overnight.  Low temperature around 47.

Friday-  Cloudy and cooler with showers throughout most of the day.  High temperature around 52.

Friday night-  Showers continuing overnight.  Low temperature around 45.

Saturday-  Mostly cloudy scattered showers.  High temperature around 56.

Saturday night-  Showers likely overnight.  Low temperature around 45.

Sunday-  Scattered clouds with a shower possible during the afternoon.  Warmer with a high temperature around 74.

Extended Forecast-  Showers and thunderstorms are likely Monday with highs in the lower 80s.  Clear skies will return Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the lower 70s.

Pictures from Squall Line- April 4th, 2011

These are 3 pictures of the shelf cloud associated with a line of severe thunderstorms that moved through Starkville on Monday.  We had wind gusts of up to 30 MPH, measured sustained winds of 22 MPH, brief small hail, and very close cloud to ground lightning (a few bolts within 1/4 mile).