The Severe Storm Outlook from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a tornado watch for northwest Tennessee until 11 pm. A watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe storms to occur in the watch area.
A northward-moving warm front is drawing large amounts of moisture from the gulf today and tonight. The risk of supercells, capable of producing a few tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds, was greatest along and near the front this afternoon.
There is another chance of severe weather after nightfall. Damaging winds, with embedded tornadoes will again be possible with these storms.
Forecaster Rick Shanklin with the National Weather Service office in Paducah says all the ingredients are in place for some rough weather as we go through the day.
"This is a pretty dynamic system. The wind fields are quite impressive. The instability is certainly sufficient for what could wind up being a severe weather event of fair significance across our area," Shanklin said.
Some areas seeing storms both this afternoon and evening may experience locally heavy rain. There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall over southwest Indiana, southern Illinois, and the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky.
Drivers should also be watchful for ponding of water on roadways during heavy rains.
On the Net:
Paducah Weather Service webpage
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