Severe Weather : Georgia / Alabama #Derecho Event March 18 2013

Widespread wind damage reports were reported across much of Georgia and Alabama on March 18 2013. There were also reports of Hail varying in size from small to upward of 3 inches.

While this storm system as far as I’ve seen has not been classified as a Derecho, it does qualify as one. A Derecho is classified as a long lived line of storms causing wind damage for more than 240 miles along most of it’s length. Another requirement to meet Derecho qualification is wind speeds of or greater than 57 MPH at points along the path of the storm. I don’t have data to back this up, but from following and reporting on many of the storms spawned by this system, I’d say this qualification was also met.

This system caused widespread wind damage from North Alabama where it began to take on the characteristics of a Derecho and lasting into Southeast Georgia. The distance covered is almost double the 240 mile requirement.

Here’s a Radar loop of the event …

Here’s a couple maps showing wind damage and hail as well as a couple tornado reports.

Severe weather still on track for Georgia and Alabama Wednesday JAN 30 #gawx #alwx

This was written for my local area and posted on my Facebook page Cataula Georgia Weather. The local area is Columbus and Fort Benning Georgia and Phenix City Alabama. You can use this information for areas anywhere in East Alabama and West Georgia as the system coming through will cover a large area. On with the show….

The exact time is still in question depending on which model you go by and I will continue to look at them for agreement. Still looking like instabilities will increase sometime after 8:00 AM EST Wednesday morning. Regardless of timing, before the main area comes through we may see some thunderstorms in the area some which could be severe with damaging winds, lightning, and heavy rain.

The winds will be gusty during this time 20 to 25 mph and will increase as the expected line of stronger storms gets closer and moves through the area to about 40 mph. Gusty winds like this can cause damage without being associated with severe storms. Stronger winds are likely in any severe storm. I’ll also keep a watch for any discrete / individual storm cells developing out in front of the main line. These may become strong enough to bring severe weather to the area before the main line. These type of individual storm cells may also be capable of spawning tornadoes. The greatest threat at this time remains unchanged from my previous posts .. Strong to severe ‘damaging winds’ are likely and the possibility of a tornado or two. As always, ‘not everyone will see severe storms and or tornadoes’.

I’ll be looking at this closely over the coming hours for any changes that may increase the severity of the storms. Right now I do have one concern. As the trough approaches that will be bring the storms to the area, it looks to go from a positive tilt to a neutral tilt. This will increase the wind speeds / shear in both the upper and lower levels. At this time the winds are more than adequate for a damaging wind event and a couple tornadoes. Any increase would make this a larger threat. If the trough should go negatively tilted, the wind and shear would again increase even more. This is something that will need to be monitored and I will be doing just that. I’ll have another update Wednesday Morning or sooner is needed. ~ ED

As always, find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CataulaGeorgiaWeather and Twitter Follow @Cataulagawx
before and when the storms strike. I’m there all the time and don’t always have time to update the blog here 😉

Late week system – Severe Weather undetermined Georgia / Alabama

Posted 3:37 PM EST 1/6/2013

Next system looks to come in Thursday and Friday but should see some rain showers before and after. Weather models continue to disagree on timing and strength of system for the local area but as mentioned, at a minimum we should have some thunder in the area.

The GFS is faster with the system and takes it quicker to the north along with the energy associated with it, while the ECMWF is slower and farther south bringing it into the area on Friday.

Still undetermined at this time if there will be any severe weather with this in our area, but will go ahead and ‘mention again’ the possibility of ‘isolated severe’ due to the environment associated with this system.

I’ll keep watching this and will post again when I know more and closer to weeks end.

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