Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
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ACUS01 KWNS 241951
SWODY1
SPC AC 241949

Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0249 PM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024

Valid 242000Z - 251200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS AND NORTHWEST
OKLAHOMA...

...SUMMARY...
Large hail, damaging gusts and a few tornadoes are possible this
afternoon and evening over parts of the central/southern Plains.

...20Z Update...

...Western/Southern KS into Central OK...
19Z surface analysis places a low over southeast CO and another low
farther northeast over the western KS/NE border vicinity. A dryline
extends southward from this northern low through western KS, central
TX Panhandle, TX South Plains, and Permian Basin. Thunderstorms have
initiated along this dryline from southwest KS into the TX South
Plains, within a narrow axis of modest buoyancy. These storms are
expected to persist and deepen as they move eastward/northeastward,
with large hail still anticipated to be the primary severe risk.
Highest storm coverage is still forecast for parts of northwest OK
and south-central KS later this afternoon/early evening.
Additionally, as mentioned in recently issued MCD #292, cooler
temperatures aloft and resultant greater buoyancy coupled with a
wider warm sector could sustain a supercell or two over southwest
KS, with hail and brief tornado risk over a relatively wider area.

...South-Central OK into TX Hill Country..
Guidance remains consistent in forecasting thunderstorm development
along the Pacific front from south-central OK into central TX/TX
Hill Country tonight. Steep mid-level lapse rates and strong shear
suggest the potential for organized storms. Large hail is possible
with the initial, more cellular development with a trend towards a
more linear mode and damaging gusts anticipated thereafter.

..Mosier.. 03/24/2024

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1128 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024/

...Southern KS into Western OK...
Morning water vapor loop shows a fast-moving negatively-tilted upper
trough rotating across the four-corners region toward the southern
Plains.  Ahead of this system, strong low-level cyclogenesis is
occurring over eastern CO, resulting in strong southerly low-level
winds throughout much of the southern Plains.  Strong heating in the
High Plains will help to mix the surface dryline eastward into the
eastern TX Panhandle by mid/late afternoon, where widely scattered
thunderstorms are expected to form.  This will be on the nose of a
70-80 kt mid-level jet max.  The synoptic setup, vertical shear
profiles, and mid-level lapse rates look very favorable for severe
storms today.  The major limiting factor for a more significant
outbreak is the meager low-level moisture (dewpoints only in the
low-mid 50s).  This will likely limit the number of storms that
form, and result in higher-based storms with somewhat weaker
updrafts.  Nevertheless, those storms that can become established
should be discrete supercells for some period of time and pose a
risk of large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.  Have added
a small ENH for parts of northwest OK and south-central KS where 12z
guidance has highest confidence of storm coverage.

...Northwest KS...
Cold temperatures aloft and convergence near the surface low/front
will result in a period of strong/severe thunderstorms this
afternoon.  While this period of concern will likely only last 2-3
hours, thermodynamic profiles suggest a risk of hail in the stronger
cells.

...West-central to North TX...
It remains unclear how many dryline storms will form this afternoon
over west-central TX.  CAM guidance is quite diverse, but most
models show only one or two storms.  Any activity that does form
would have a risk of large hail and damaging winds.  After dark, a
more consistent signal of robust convection occurs as the Pacific
cold front and mid-level jet forcing overspreads the area.  Forecast
soundings suggest sufficient CAPE/shear for a risk of hail and
damaging winds into the overnight hours.

$$


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