Northwest Flow Bears Watching

Thanks this morning to Gordon and Angela Geralds for this awesome storm picture. This was taken on May 13th during the outbreak of hail storms that hit the area. Those storms were riding the upper level wind flow from northwest to southeast across the area. We have that kind of flow above the ground again today, but we're not expecting anything like what we saw back in May. But the Storm Prediction Center has outlined a slight risk for severe storms from Middle Tennessee through Kentucky up into Indiana and Ohio. To me it looks like most of the storminess will be along and north of the Ohio River, but we'll keep an eye on points northwest for storms that could move in here.
Today: Mostly sunny skies early, then partly cloudy late with a few storms late this afternoon into early tonight. Highs today around 85.
Overnight: Storms fade out. Some patchy fog is possible with lows around 63.
Thursday: Mostly sunny and breezy. Northwest winds pick up 10 to 20 mph and gusty. Highs Thursday afternoon around86.
Friday: Partly cloudy and warm with highs near 87.
Saturday and Sunday look steamy with highs near 90. And a small threat for an isolated storm or two popping up with the afternoon heat both days.
Overall, I think things look o.k. for the start of Riverbend 2006.
By the way, a good question from a viewer who asked this question, "I was wondering if we [our area] are entering the time of year when tornadoes are becoming less and less frequent? In other words, at the end of May didn't we reach our peak tornado season for our forecast area?"
The answer is yes, and no.
Tennessee does tend to have one spike in tornado activity during the Spring months, but there is also a secondary severe weather season that hits in November around here. And the fact of the matter is, in the Southeast United States the tornado threat is spread out through the entire year. It's possible to have a tornado in ANY month here. Which tends to be part of the preparedness problem here.
In the Plains states like Texas and Oklahoma, there is only one giant spike in tornado activity from late March to early June, with early May being the peak. People know that and are really tuned into the weather in that time frame. They are ready to act.
Here it's a different story. People pay attention in the Spring, but may not be as tuned in to severe weather thinking during other times of the year. We need people to pay attention just a little bit to the weather every day. So on those days when there's a threat for severe storms they are already on alert. That's why Channel 3 Eyewitness News still has the Storm Alert Weather Radio offer on our website. Click here for details: http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/weather/weather_radio.cfm
35 people died in Tennessee this year in tornadoes. More than twice the number of all the other states combined. There were devastating outbreaks earlier in the season, but clearly more needs to be done. And a great starting place would be making weather radios in homes as common as smoke detectors.
And as long as I'm on the subject, I need to rant. I think another important step needs to be taken. We need to get back to the days when weather radios were used for weather information ONLY!!!! I am referring to the use of NOAA weather radios as a vehicle to deliver "Amber Alert" messages.
Before I go any further, let me state that I believe the Amber Alerts are a terrific way to save children, and get them back with their parents as soon as possible. There's no doubt that the system works, has saved lives, and should have been developed years ago.
But sending a tone alert for a missing child in the middle of the night on a device that people have using to get severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings on is JUST PLAIN WRONG!
Because when people are trained to shut off or unplug that radio because it's an Amber Alert waking them up instead of a weather warning, you have just destroyed a system that took years to develop, worked, and has saved A LOT of lives. And I know people are shutting them off.
When the Amber Alerts first started toning on NOAA weather radios, I contacted the NWS in Morristown, TN to ask if there was anyone who would listen to debate on this issue. I was referred to the president of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters who basically said this was the best vehicle to get information to all radio and television stations instantly. He had heard the arguments, but they felt like there was no other option available.
Let me say again...........Amber Alert - great program.
But like the fatal fire where a smoke detector is in the home with a missing or dead battery, I think the day is coming where a home or public building is the site of a death or deaths where a NOAA weather radio is present but shut off or unplugged.