Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
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Issued by NWS
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782 ACUS01 KWNS 041253 SWODY1 SPC AC 041251 Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0751 AM CDT Sat May 04 2024 Valid 041300Z - 051200Z ...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO... ...SUMMARY... Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the southern High Plains into the Hill Country of central Texas this afternoon and evening. Several storms may produce very large hail, and a couple strong tornadoes are possible. ...Synopsis... Starting today and for several more, the greatest mid upper-level influence on severe-thunderstorm potential will be related to a well-developed cyclone now centered over the northeastern Pacific, about 250 nm west of ONP. The associated 500-mb low should dig southeastward to northeastern CA by the end of the period (12Z tomorrow), with a large swath of preceding difluent flow spreading over the Rocky Mountain States. In response to these developments, a southern-stream perturbation -- evident in moisture-channel imagery from parts of AZ across northern/central Baja -- will pivot east-northeastward. This feature should reach southern NM and Chihuahua by 00Z, then merge with convectively generated vorticity over west TX this evening. The perturbation then should reach western OK and north-central to south-central TX by 12Z. At the surface, 11Z analysis showed an elongated area of low pressure over southwestern to north-central IA, with cold front southwestward across southeastern KS, southwestern OK, and the Llano Estacado between PVW-CVS. A warm front was analyzed from southeastern IA across northeastern MO and southern IL. As the low-pressure area migrates toward Lake Michigan by 00Z, the cold front is forecast to reach northeastern to extreme southern IL, the central Ozarks, southern OK, and west-central TX, becoming muddled by convective processes southwestward through the Permian Basin/ lower Pecos Valley region. By 12Z, the low should reach eastern Lower MI, with cold front over IN, central AR, and northeast TX, becoming ill-defined amid expansive outflow southwestward from there in TX. The warm front should reach eastern IL, central IN and northwestern OH by 00Z. ...TX/southern OK/extreme southeastern NM... Widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms are expected to form this afternoon along and behind the cold front over west TX and southeastern NM, as well as ahead of the cold front, near the dryline and over strongly heated, relatively high elevations west of the Pecos Valley. Large hail will be a threat on both sides of the front, with severe-wind and tornado potential more prevalent to its south. One or two dominant, prefrontal, mid/late-afternoon supercells may evolve and remain south of the front -- through the lower Pecos Valley/FST region -- to sustain threats for strong tornadoes and very large/destructive hail. As in the last few days, storm-boundary and storm-storm interactions may factor importantly into localized enhancement of tornado risk. Strong heating and moist advection are expected this afternoon south of the front, increasing theta-e and reducing MLCINH in support of initiation. 70s F surface dewpoints are already present not far upstream in the Rio Grande Valley and below the Balcones Escarpment, around DRT-UVA. Mid 60s to near 70 F dewpoints and 1-1.5-inch PW should be common east of the dryline, and between the front and the Rio Grande, by late afternoon, supporting MLCAPE of 2500-3500 J/kg amid steep low/middle-level lapse rates. Kinematically, by 00Z, this area will be in a vertical superposition of: 1. The supportive large-scale ascent regime of the left-exit region of a broad subtropical jet, whose axis remains over northern MX. 2. A strengthening, southeasterly LLJ, lengthening/enlarging the hodograph. This LLJ also should transport rich low-level moisture into convection over the region, while providing strong storm-relative low-level winds. 3. Strengthening flow near 500 mb, supporting increases in effective-shear magnitudes to around 45-60 kt. Upscale merger/growth of convection is expected this evening, with resulting MCS shifting eastward over the Edwards Plateau/Hill Country before weakening late tonight. Damaging to severe gusts will become the main threat, though embedded tornadic circulations and isolated large hail will remain possible. The northern part of this activity also may grow/merge with initially separate, less- organized (but still potentially marginally severe) convection in the Red River region of southern OK and north TX. ...North/northeast TX to mid Mississippi Valley vicinity... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms -- some in lines and multicellular clusters -- should affect portions of this broad corridor today into this evening along and ahead of the surface cold front. Isolated damaging to severe gusts and large hail are the main concerns. Due to limited low/middle-level lapse rates, adequate but not rich moisture, and modest vertical shear, severe potential in this swath should be less focused, and more marginal in magnitude than over the "slight" and "enhanced" areas. ..Edwards/Broyles.. 05/04/2024 $$