The anticipated severe weather event is unfolding. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK has issued a Tornado Watch effective until 8p.m. this New Year's Eve for all parishes in the forecast area to the North of I-10. This includes Beauregard, Allen, Vernon, Rapides, St. Landry, Evangeline, and Avoyelles Parishes. This same tornado watch extends Northward into the Shreveport and Jackson NWS areas of responsibility. The watch includes cities such as Natchez, MS, Natchitoches, LA, and Monroe, LA. The rest of SW Louisiana (Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis, Vermilion, Acadia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Mary, & Iberia Parishes) are not included in any tornado watch box at the moment, but this event is just beginning to unfold, so this could change as the afternoon progresses, so stay tuned.
Currently, there is not too much ongoing across most of SW Louisiana, however, scattered activity has begun to develop. One strong thunderstorm that developed before noon near the state line in Calcasieu Parish has moved NE and is currently near Alexandria. This storm has intensified significantly, and has been showing signs of rotation. The NWS Lake Charles has issued a Tornado Warning for this particular cell. There has not been any reports of a tornado or any severe weather in this forecast area just yet.
A separate Tornado Watch is in effect until 7p.m. for all of SE Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, and parts of Southern Alabama and Extreme Western Florida. This includes Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Hammond, Slidell, Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, McComb, Hattiesburg, Mobile, and Pensacola. I would expect additional watches and many warnings to be issued later on this afternoon and well into tonight.
Looks like we will be ringing in the new year with some of Mother Nature's fireworks. Stay tuned for more.
-DM-
No comments:
Post a Comment