Sunday, April 17, 2011

Severe weather took the lives of 41 people across the southeastern US this weekend. Over a hundred tornado reports account for countless downed trees, thousands of people without power, hundreds of homes and buildings damaged or destroyed. NWS will be conducting a damage assessment across the south today & new information will be available soon on what is sure to be a historic tornado outbreak.

Across West Virginia, rain has subsided but still chilly & breezy conditions prevail on this Palm Sunday morning. Warmer air will lift north, allowing temps in the low 60s with a few peaks of sunshine later today. Temps tonight will stay in the low 40s. Another quick short wave disturbance will bring weak instability to the Ohio Valley & Great Lakes late Sunday into Monday. This will combine with slightly warmer temperatures in the mid to upper 60s to produce scattered rain showers and a few isolated thunderstorms across Ohio and West Virginia late tonight/Monday.

Better chance for more widespread thunderstorms and another good soaking will arrive Tuesday AND Wednesday as another low pressure center and cold front swings east across the Midwest and into the Mid-Atlantic states. Lots of warm air will lift north ahead of the front putting temperatures in the 70s & 80s Tuesday & Wednesday. This makes our best chance for severe weather Wednesday as more moderate instability develops.

High pressure with cooler air & more tranquil weather is on tap for Thursday.