Severe Weather Season in Plains Gaining Momentum

As we all know, severe weather season is approaching quickly for the Great Plains and it seems the season most weather enthusiasts dream of is finally starting to gain some momentum. This year 'tornado season' has been eerily quiet. Up until yesterday, the Great Plains states has not seen a single tornado touch down since January 4th of this year, where an EF2 touched down just north of Dozier, Alabama.

Meteorological conditions have to be just right in order to fuel thunderstorm development, and this year we just haven't seen those perfect conditions. Yesterday's weather pattern in the plains provided conditions that were just right - which produced a few tornadoes. As a low moved across the mid-west, a front was able to supply the lift needed to produce that rising motion in the atmosphere needed for storm development. From there a southerly flow from the Gulf provided enough moisture to fuel thunderstorms and finally, there was enough wind shear to create 'spin' in the atmosphere to help fuel tornado development. Sure enough by late afternoon the first tornado warning was issued near Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As the evening went on storms began to fire across Oklahoma, Alabama, and Missouri, with Oklahoma and Arkansas seeing the worst of it. While most of the storms were severe thunderstorm warned, only a few were tornado warned. According to the Storm Prediction Center, there were 7 tornado reports yesterday across Oklahoma and Arkansas. Unfortunately there was 1 fatality in a mobile home park located in Sand Springs, OK.

Storm reports for 3/25/2015 as seen on SPC Website.

The residents of Moore, OK saw yet another tornado rip through their town yesterday as well. The cell that produced this tornado actually took a while to be warned. A lot of meteorologist were buzzing on Twitter about this. It is thought that there was a tornado on the ground before the storm was warned. Hook-echo, low level rotation, and a debris ball were all evident on radar as the storm approached Moore, but the excitement of the storm moving through Oklahoma City at the time overshadowed the tornado touchdown near Moore. Just before the tornado moved through Moore, the cell was finally warned. This city seems to have some pretty bad luck with severe weather as they saw an F5 in 1999, an F4 in 2003, an EF4 in 2010, an EF5 in 2013, and the tornado that ravaged parts of the town last night. Many Twitter posts show damage to the unlucky town, including damage to the make shift emergency room that was set up after the city's hospital was destroyed by the 2013, EF5 monster.

Damage in Moore, Ok from yesterday's tornado touchdown.

Moore, OK funnel.

Past tornado paths through Moore, Ok. as posted on Twitter.

Tornado sirens were heard in Oklahoma City as an intense thunderstorm moved through the area. Thankfully there was no tornado touchdown with that particular storm, as it would have passed directly over the city causing major damage and putting many lives in danger. The view of the storm as it passed over the city was incredible though, unfortunately I cannot find any images to share.

So after all of yesterday's weather excitement, what is going on today?

There will be scattered thunderstorms spread over the areas in green on the map above, due to a cold front moving eastward and through these areas. All areas highlighted in green should keep a close watch as some severe storms can fire up in the afternoon hours. Some of these storms in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf coast regions can be accompanied by some strong winds, which will occur mainly this afternoon.

As always just keep an eye to the sky and be weather-savvy!