1/29/13-1/30/13 TORNADO OUTBREAK INFORMATION

AS OF ABOUT 9:00 PM CST

A late January tornado outbreak is currently underway in deep South. The Storm Prediction Center has had a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms for eastern Arkansas, northwestern Mississippi, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, and northern Louisiana. There are individual supercell thunderstorms forming in Arkansas and Louisiana on the south side of a squall line that goes up into Missouri and Illinois. As of 9:06 PM CST, there were 2 reports of tornadoes, one near the Arkansas/Oklahoma border in Crawford County and one in Warren County, Missouri. While tornadoes are one of the main threats, many areas are expected to see heavy rain, which could lead to flooding, and damaging straight line winds in excess of 70 mph.

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT

 Tornado warnings are really beginning to fire right now across Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. These storms are going to move eastward overnight, causing more tornadoes, strong winds, and heavy rain for Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Things should settle down in these areas by morning, but damage, tornado damage or straight line wind damage, will be wide spread across these areas.

GULF AND THE EAST COAST

Individual cells may form in front of the main squall line. Right now there is only a slight risk for severe storms across the Gulf Coast and East Coast for tomorrow, but more than likely that will change. The same threats from tonight's storms will be with the storms tomorrow as they cross Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, and Delaware. Things should be done by tomorrow night, and damage assessment and clean up will be in full force.

WHAT TO BE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW

NOAA Weather Radio in the Memphis area is currently experiencing technical difficulties at the current time. Please have a back up option of getting the warnings.(NO SIRENS!!!!!!!!!!!!)

NWS Radar for the Shreveport, LA coverage area is down for dual-polarization upgrade. This could make the warning process more difficult for areas relying on this radar.

Tornado Watches are in effect for most of Arkansas, North Louisiana, far western Kentucky and Tennessee, and for small chunks of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi. Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions and head to a sturdy storm shelter if a tornado warning is issued.