Yet Another Severe Weather Threat Looms for Dixie Alley This Weekend

Figure 1. GFS predicted 850 mb height and wind for 18z Saturday, illustrating the strong LLJ over the mid and lower Mississippi Valley. (Pivotal Weather)

A negatively tilted trough is going to lift out of the Plains and into the Great Lakes Saturday into Saturday night. At the same time, a deepening low is expected to bring a trailing front east. Warm and humid Gulf air will inevitably get transported north ahead of the front, destabilizing the atmosphere.

Another round of strong to severe storms is possible. For those keeping count, this would be the third week in a row with a severe threat.

CIPS severe-based analog guidance is indicating an overall 15 – 30% chance of severe weather Saturday.

Additionally, model guidance is advertising strong dynamics with this system. A 50 – 70 kt low-level jet (LLJ) and moderate levels of CAPE (instability) are predicted (see figure 1). However, the northern extent of the higher CAPE values is uncertain.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has already defined a large 15% (slight) risk area; adjustments are likely as we get closer to Saturday. At this time, all modes of severe weather appear to be on the table.

Looking at Sunday, it is possible that the severe threat could carry over into the Southeast.

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Caleb Carmichael
Caleb Carmichael

Caleb is the owner of Gulf Coast Storm Center. He is currently an undergraduate student at Mississippi State University majoring in geoscience with a concentration in broadcast and operational meteorology. While not yet a meteorologist, Caleb has been providing weather updates, news, and analysis for the Gulf Coast since 2014.

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