Severe Storm Advisory - Saturday Sept. 8, 2012

 

The same outbreak of dangerous storms responsible for at least four deaths on Friday will push eastward today into ourarea later today.  There is a chance of severe thunderstorms this morning between 10am and noon and again this evening, between 7pm and midnight.

The culprit for this outbreak of violent storms is a powerful cold front for this time of year that will be sweeping through the Great Lakes into the Northeast.  Strong southerly winds ahead of this front are ushering in warm and tropical air. At the same time, westerly winds behind the front are driving a fall-like air mass toward the region.

The clash of these air masses will lead to violent upward motion in the atmosphere, and the result will be formidable thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts, hail larger than ping pong balls and blinding downpours.

Additionally, a furious twisting motion in the atmosphere caused by the sudden changes in wind direction near and just ahead of the front could lead to a threat of tornadoes in ourarea as well.