Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
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Issued by NWS
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914 ACUS01 KWNS 180540 SWODY1 SPC AC 180539 Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1139 PM CST Mon Nov 17 2025 Valid 181200Z - 191200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY REGION... ...SUMMARY... A few strong to severe storms are possible across portions of the Lower Ohio Valley region. ...Lower OH Valley... Central Plains upper trough is shifting east toward the mid MS Valley, in line with latest model guidance. As a 60+kt 500mb speed max translates across MO into southern IL/IN, this feature will advance into the lower OH Valley by 19/00z, suppressing the height field as far south as the OH River. Veered, but strong LLJ will focus across southern MO-southern IL/IN before being nudged downstream into eastern KY/southern OH by early evening. Net result will be for a NW-SE oriented corridor of warm advection to shift east during the day ahead of a weak surface low near the base of the short-wave trough. Earlier thoughts regarding the potential for severe continue as instability will gradually increase along this corridor as midlevel temperatures cool and lapse rates steepen a bit. In the absence of strong boundary-layer heating, the majority of convection that develops across this region will be elevated and aided in large part by the LLJ. Forecast soundings suggest lifted parcel level will gradually lower by late afternoon such that near-surface based parcels could yield modest instability (800-1000 J/kg). Primary concern today will be hail with elevated supercells, but some tornado risk is possible with late-day storms, where parcel lift reflects lower 60s dew points that are expected to return toward the confluence of the MS/OH Rivers during the afternoon. ...Lower Colorado River Valley/southwest AZ... Weak midlevel height falls will spread across the lower CO River Valley today as the upper low off the southern CA Coast eventually settles toward the international border/northern Baja Peninsula. As this features digs southeast, a weak LLJ should extend across southwestern AZ into the early part of the afternoon. Latest thinking is scattered convection should evolve ahead of the cold front as it surges across the lower CO River Valley. Forecast soundings exhibit ample shear for organized rotating updrafts, but buoyancy is expected to be weak. Given the modest lapse rates, there is concern updrafts may struggle a bit and hail is expected to remain below severe levels. Some consideration was given to adding a 2 percent probability for the risk of a brief tornado but will hold off at this time given the marginality of the situation. ..Darrow/Moore.. 11/18/2025 $$