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Tornado Digest: Fairly benign April set to go out with a bang

Ian Livingston

Tornado near Shelmerdine, NC on April 25. (YouTube)
Tornado near Shelmerdine, NC on April 25. (YouTube)
Looking back at the week of April 20-26, and a brief look ahead.

It was a pretty active week — for this year. That was mainly because of a mini tornado outbreak that occurred in North Carolina on Friday, April 25. Several supercells tracked across eastern parts of the state dropping a number of tornadoes.

Other than that, just a few scattered instances of tornado activity on a few days. Hardly even a story for this time of year.

Alas, we are in late April and closing in on the peak of the spring season, and quite a few tornadoes appear to be just around the corner.

Tornado activity across the U.S. during the week of April 20-26. Note: Another t-storm watch was issued in the intermountain west and is not shown.
Tornado activity across the U.S. April 20-26. Note: Another t-storm watch was issued in the intermountain west and is not shown.

April 20 – Northwest Texas

Chaser paradise! A weekend and a beautiful storm over open countryside. Moisture was a bit lacking for much in the way of tornado activity, but the terrain was great and the storms were gorgeous. At least one brief tornado touchdown was noted near the Oklahoma and Texas borders.

April 23 – High Plains

No tornadoes, but a classic high Plains supercell day. Another one with a moisture issue, but it had plenty of stunning supercells. Who doesn’t love structure?

April 24 – Mississippi

A few supercells developed over Mississippi during the evening. There was general belief that a tornado or two occurred, but as of now there has been no confirmation.

April 25 – North Carolina

This is the time of year for bigger tornado events in the Carolina Piedmont and coastal counties. We saw that to some degree on Friday the 25th. Unlike many other threats in 2014, this one reached potential and then some. At least 7 tornadoes have been confirmed thus far, five of which were rated as strong.

The season’s first EF-3 also was recorded in this event, almost a month later than the previous latest in the calendar year.


Shelmerdine, NC. Looking toward Greenville.

April 26 – Plains

This was slated as the possible beginning of a multi-day significant severe weather episode. Forcing came in a bit slow for much to happen. A few severe storms did develop, but mainly not until near and after dark. No tornado activity was reported.

Outbreak?

A slow-moving upper level system will help spawn day after day of higher end severe weather starting this afternoon across the Mid South. The peak of the activity starts today and perhaps lasts through Tuesday. Tornadoes are likely on each day. Some should be strong, and perhaps even violent.

Related: Tornado Threat Forecast: April 27-30

Here’s a NAM4k radar simulation over Arkansas this evening, showing several large storms over the region which lies about in the middle of the Storm Prediction Center’s moderate risk:

(Weatherbell.com)
(Weatherbell.com)

Around the same time, SPC SREF shows very high significant tornado parameter values:

(Storm Prediction Center)
(Storm Prediction Center)

A bumpy ride ahead, and one that may roll through the night tonight bringing extra dangers along with.

Originally posted at 11:35 a.m.

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Ian Livingston

Information lead and forecaster for the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.
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