Mesoscale Discussion 0311
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0256 PM CDT Tue Mar 22 2022
Areas affected...Western Alabama
Concerning...Tornado Watch
62...
Valid 221956Z - 222200Z
The severe weather threat for Tornado Watch 62 continues.
SUMMARY...Some threat for damaging wind gusts and QLCS tornadoes
will continue into western Alabama this afternoon. The threat will
generally be greater in west-central Alabama where moisture/buoyancy
is greater.
DISCUSSION...Storms within central/eastern Mississippi have largely
remained linear this afternoon. There are some discrete cells ahead
of the the primary line. The most substantial of these discrete
storms is moving northeast through Kemper County, MS and has
recently shown a TDS on KDGX radar. The overall expectation is for
these cells to be overtaken by the line in the next 60-90 minutes.
Going forward, wind damage and QLCS tornadoes are expected to be the
primary threats as convection moves into western Alabama. The
environment ahead of the convective line has been able to warm to
near 80 F in several places. However, moisture return in Alabama has
been much less than in Mississippi. Consequently, MLCAPE values have
remained from 300-400 J/kg in northern Alabama to 500-700 in
west-central Alabama. Due to the forward speed of the line, it is
uncertain how much further destabilization can occur through the
afternoon. In any event, some potential for damaging wind gusts and
QLCS tornadoes will exist given the strong low-level winds and
low-level hodograph turning observed in region VWPs.