Disclaimer:  This site is not affiliated with the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Hunters, Storm Prediction Center, or National Weather Service.  ALL forecasts herein are the result of my analysis, (to which you will see me at times, insert excerpts from various agencies due to the nature of the importance of the information) and I am solely responsible for the content.  As ALWAYS, follow the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, and your local Emergency Management officials for emergency decisions.  In addition, this is strictly a FORECAST OFFICE.  I CANNOT make decisions regarding travel plans, etc.  My purpose, is to provide you the information, based solely on information I analyze, and the accuracy of the information at hand of the time of analysis, so you may make informed decisions.
(T. F. “Storm” Walsh)

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I will reiterate, my forecasts are based on the available information at the time of analysis, and are only as accurate as the information analyzed and the solutions provided.

Good day everyone!

The forecast center is closed on Sunday’s.  Please visit this site on Sunday in order to access SPC products for any severe weather threat.

The Storm Prediction Center indicates a risk for severe weather on Sat. and Sun., with a SLIGHT risk and MARGINAL risk, respectively.  ALL graphics are linked to their outlooks:
DAY 2 OUTLOOK:

DAY 3 OUTLOOK:

SPC DAY 4 – 8 OUTLOOK: (LINKED TO OUTLOOK)

For a little clarity on the “new” BLACK HATCHED areas, the SPC has added them as CIG or Conditional Intensity Groups.  The higher the category, the stronger that particular weather risk is forecast to be.  The following links explain this new feature, along with a video from the SPC:
NWS 
https://www.weather.gov/news/262402-spc

SPC
https://origin-west-www-spc.woc.noaa.gov/about/outlooks/#:~:text=The%20SPC%20will%20represent%20these%20intensity%20forecasts,product%2C%20replacing%20the%20current%20operational%20’SIGN’%20label.

IF 1300Z SPC DAY 1 outlook graphics are utilized, please check the SPC site for any updates to the outline risks when they are issued.  The next update is issued at 1630Z (12:30 p.m. EDT) 

CURRENT DAY1 SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a MARGINAL risk for severe thunderstorms in the current DAY1 Outlook: FROM THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY INTO THE UPPER TEXAS COAST…AND ACROSS THE CENTRAL GULF COAST INTO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE…

…SPC SUMMARY…
Thunderstorms with isolated severe wind gusts and hail will be possible today across parts of south-central and southeast Texas, and this evening into tonight along the central Gulf Coast.

1300Z SPC DAY 1 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK (LINKED FOR OUTLOOK TEXT)

TORNADO PROBABILITY

Probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.  Hatched area: a 10% or greater probability of  EF2 – EF5 tornadoes within 25 miles of a point
HAIL PROBABILITY

Probability of one inch diameter hail or larger within 25 miles of a point. Hatched area: a 10% or greater probability of 2.0 inch diameter or larger hail within 25 miles of a point 
DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WIND PROBABILITY

Probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots or higher within 25 miles of a point.  Hatched area: a 10% or greater probability of 65 kt+ winds within 25 miles of a point

CSU – MLP DAY 1 AND 2 FORECAST PROBABILITIES (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)

NSSL ML DAY 1 PROBABILITY

CSU – MLP 6 PANEL PROBABILITIES DAY 3 – DAY 8 FORECAST (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)


DAY 1 PROBABILITY CONVERSION TABLE

SPC DISCUSSION EXCERPT:
Thermodynamic conditions across these region are expected to remain largely unchanged throughout much of the day, with modest elevated instability persisting amid the moist southwesterly mid-level flow. Some modest increase in the mid-level flow is anticipated as the shortwave trough continues eastward through TX and into the Lower Mississippi Valley. An attendant increase in large-scale ascent is expected as well. Resulting increase in the deep-layer shear could result in slightly more organized storm structures and greater overall storm intensity this afternoon despite numerous preceding showers and thunderstorms, and little change in the overall thermodynamics. Large hail and damaging gusts are the primary risks with the strongest storms.

A surface low is expected to develop ahead of the shortwave trough over the western Gulf, before then tracking quickly northeastward as the shortwave continues eastward. This low will likely be just off the Deep South Texas Coast by 00Z Saturday, and off of southern Plaquemines Parish by 06Z. Elevated thunderstorms are expected across the Lower MS Valley amid a combination of warm-air advection and large-scale ascent ahead of the shortwave. The strongest storms may be capable of producing small hail. The surface low may also track far enough north for the warm sector to advect into the near-coastal regions of southeast Louisiana, far southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western/central Florida Panhandle. If this occurs, surface-based storms could develop, enhancing the potential for damaging gusts as well as introducing a low-probability tornado risk.

The following maps are from NADOCAST for tornado and hail probabilities.  Click each image for a larger view.  
12Z NADOCAST TORNADO PROBABILITY

12Z NADOCAST SIGTOR PROBABILITY 

12Z NADOCAST HAIL PROBABILITY 

12Z NADOCAST SIGHAIL PROBABILITY 

Based on my analysis this morning, strong to severe thunderstorms were already in progress over the MARGINAL risk outline over Texas.  This activity is forecast to progress east and initiate over the Gulf Coast MARGINAL risk outline later today. Based on analysis of the current forecast severe weather indices, the forecast calls for a marginally unstable to moderately unstable atmosphere within the MARGINAL risk outline and 5% HAIL OUTLINE over the Gulf Coast region.  The main severe risk as of analysis this morning appears to isolated strong supercells with a possibility of HAIL to LARGE HAIL, and damaging thunderstorm winds / gusts. The tornado risk is at 2% over the risk outlines.  Should any tornado activity occur, it should be weak (EF0 – EF1).

Based on analysis of mainly model animations, the current outlook, and analysis of indices, it was noted that the strongest convection and indices did not exactly match the SPC outlined areas with maximum values being located over the extreme southern portion, however these should occur approximately between late afternoon through late evening, over the Gulf Coast risk outline.  Please visit the SPC homepage via the link provided for any changes to the forecast today.
CAPE VALUES FORECAST

DEW POINT FORECAST

Indices were analyzed from the NAM 3KM, HRRR 3KM, CIPS DETERMINISTIC, and SPC SREF model guidance.

REGARDING EHI VALUES: While EHI values are calculated utilizing MLCAPE and 0 – 3 km SRH values (MLCAPE x 0 – 3 km SRH /160,000) FOR SUPERCELL development, and MLCAPE and 0 -1 km SRH for tornado development.  The highest SRH values do not always fall within ample, highest MLCAPE values for the best probability of tornado activity. I utilize the SRH and MLCAPE values over the area that has the highest tornado risk potential.  Maximum EHI values are calculated within the area(s) that have the greatest probability for tornado activity.  

The following were the forecast parameters and indices analyzed this morning within the MARGINAL risk outline and the 5% HAIL OUTLINE from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, with the strongest being located over Louisiana.  Listed indices will always pertain to the area(s) located within the highest SPC risk outlines, based mainly on indices regarding a higher tornado potential, should multiple severe risk areas appear in the SPC forecast.  Although certain indices may appear stronger on a forecast map, given the lack of other indices does not contribute to the overall severe risk.  Bear in mind, MAXIMUM indices recorded below are for the time of peak intensity.  Some indices meanings are posted below the indices themselves, and the NWS page containing a more extensive explanation can be accessed further on in the synopsis:
SBCAPE: 250 – 2000 j/kg-1                  
MLCAPE: 250 – 1250 j/kg-1                   
MUCAPE: 250 – 2000 j/kg-1                
SRH 0 -1 km: 100 – 225 m2/s2               
SRH 0 -3 km: 200 – 400 m2/s2        
SRH EFFECTIVE: 100 – 250 m2/s2          
L. I.: -1 to -6                                                
SCP: 1 – 8                                     
STP: 0.4 – 1.6
0 -6 km SHEAR: 50 kts – 70 kts                  
EFF. SHEAR: 40 kts – 60 kts                        
MID LEVEL LAPSE RATE: 6.0C – 6.5C 
DEWPOINT: 59F – 73F                                    
SUPERCELL EHI : 0.3 – 3.1
TORNADIC EHI : 0.2 – 1.8                            
TOTAL TOTALS INDEX: 47C                
K INDEX: 26C to 34C                                          
SWEAT INDEX: 385 – 440                   
THOMPSON INDEX: 27 to 40  
CRAVEN – BROOKS INDEX: 10,000 – 30,000     

The following are some severe weather parameters and indices explanations:
CAPE

ENERGY HELICITY INDEX

K INDEX

TOTAL TOTALS INDEX

STORM RELATIVE HELICITY

LIFTED INDEX

SWEAT VALUES

THOMPSON INDEX

Craven SigSvr Parameter:
The simple product of 100mb MLCAPE and 0-6km magnitude of the vector difference (m/s; often referred to as “deep layer shear”) accounts for the compensation between instability and shear magnitude. Using a database of about 60,000 soundings, the majority of significant severe events (2+ inch hail, 65+ knot winds, F2+ tornadoes) occur when the product exceeds 20,000 m3/s3.

A little fact on SRH values and tornadoes from NOAA / NWS
Storm Relative Helicity (m² s^-2)
SRH (Storm Relative Helicity) is a measure of the potential for cyclonic updraft rotation in right-moving supercells, and is calculated for the lowest 1-km and 3-km layers above ground level. There is no clear threshold value for SRH when forecasting supercells, since the formation of supercells appears to be related more strongly to the deeper layer vertical shear. Larger values of 0-3-km SRH (greater than 250 m² s^-2) and 0-1-km SRH (greater than 100 m² s^-2), however, do suggest an increased threat of tornadoes with supercells. For SRH, larger values are generally better, but there are no clear thresholds between non-tornadic and significant tornadic supercells.

STP ( Significant Tornado Parameter) EXPLAINED:
A majority of significant tornadoes (EF2 or greater damage) have been associated with STP values greater than 1, while most non-tornadic supercells have been associated with values less than 1 in a large sample of RAP analysis proximity soundings.

SCP (Supercell Composite Parameter) EXPLAINED:
A multiple ingredient, composite index that includes effective storm-relative helicity (ESRH, based on Bunkers right supercell motion), most unstable parcel CAPE (muCAPE) and convective inhibition (muCIN), and effective bulk wind difference (EBWD). Each ingredient is normalized to supercell “threshold” values, and larger values of SCP denote greater “overlap” in the three supercell ingredients. Only positive values of SCP are displayed, which correspond to environments favoring right-moving (cyclonic) supercells.

The following are the SCP (Supercell Composite Parameter) and STP (Significant Tornado Parameter) forecast maps from the NAM 3KM model.  Generally, the higher the values and brighter the color, indicates a greater probability of strong thunderstorm and / or tornadic activity over an area:
NAM 3KM SCP FORECAST 1:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01 – 11:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01

NAM 3KM STP FORECAST 1:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01 – 11:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01

NAM 3KM RADAR SIMULATION 1:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01 – 11:00 P.M. EDT MAY 01

Please use the following maps, which should update automatically, for Mesoscale Discussions and Convective Watches.  You may have to refresh your browser, or click on the graphics.  I have provided the SPC homepage link below, so you may get the updated information regarding any changes to the outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/classic.html
SPC MESOSCALE DISCUSSIONS (CLICK IMAGE FOR UPDATES)

SPC CONVECTIVE WATCHES (CLICK IMAGE FOR UPDATES)

The following sites will explain most of the severe weather and tornado values listed above, and will give you an idea of what to expect:
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICES AND PARAMETERS NWS
https://www.weather.gov/lmk/indices

THE WEATHER PREDICTION
http://www.theweatherprediction.com/severe/indices/

The following links will connect you to the Excessive Rainfall probabilities and River Flood Outlook:
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excessive_rainfall_outlook_ero.php

SIGNIFICANT RIVER FLOOD OUTLOOK
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/index.html

The following NWS Watch / Warning map will provide local NWS information for your area.  Click the image, then once it refreshes, click on your area of interest to view forecasts, any special weather statements, hazards or advisories for your area.
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA…SEEK STURDY AND SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

NWS WATCH / WARNING DISPLAY (LINKED…CLICK MAP, THEN YOUR AREA)

NWS DOPPLER RADAR LOOP (LINKED, CLICK RADAR MAP)

RAP RADAR (CLICK IMAGE THEN GO TO LOOP DURATION AND PICK LENGTH OF LOOP, THEN CLICK RADAR SITE)
WUNDERGROUND RADAR SUMMARY MAP (CLICK FOR UPDATES)

PRECIPITATION TYPE (CLICK TO ACCESS ANIMATION FEATURE)

CARIBBEAN RADAR (CLICK IMAGE TO ACCESS ANIMATION)

You may direct any questions by contacting me personally, ANYTIME, at: [email protected]

Have a blessed day!

T. F. “STORM” WALSH III
GMCS, USCG (ret)
METEOROLOGIST / HURRICANE SPECIALIST / SEVERE WEATHER SPECIALIST
CoCoRAHS OBSERVER