SPC – No watches are valid as of Sat May 18 05:02:02 UTC 2024
No watches are valid as of Sat May 18 05:02:02 UTC 2024.
Tornado
Severe storm chances return to Plains, Midwest
A pattern change will lead to areas of the country that recently experienced a break in activity to see a renewed threat of showers and thunderstorms. Hail and damaging winds appear to be the main threats across the Plains and Midwest, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
SPC Tornado Watch 256
WW 256 TORNADO FL GA CW 172345Z – 180500Z 
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 256 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 745 PM EDT Fri May 17 2024 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of North Florida and Panhandle Southeast Georgia Coastal Waters * Effective this Friday night and Saturday morning from 745 PM until 100 AM EDT. * Primary threats include... A couple tornadoes possible Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...A broken band of severe thunderstorms will move east-southeast into the Florida Panhandle and adjacent portions of southeast Georgia and north Florida during this evening. In addition to the risk for a couple of tornadoes, severe gusts 60-70 mph resulting in wind damage will be possible with any embedded supercells or bowing segments, as they move east-southeast across the Watch area. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 35 statute miles north and south of a line from 25 miles south southeast of Brunswick GA to 45 miles southwest of Marianna FL. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 253...WW 254...WW 255... AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector 30030. ...Smith
Raging fires in Mexico send smoke over southern US, reducing air quality readings from Texas to Florida
Mexicoâs national forest commission reported 168 active wildfires have burned over a quarter of a million acres. Southerly winds help to send smoke northward towards Texas and the Gulf Coast. South Padre Island, Texas had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday as readings were considered to be in the âunhealthyâ range.
SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 255
WW 255 SEVERE TSTM MN ND SD 172230Z – 180500Z 
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 255 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 530 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Northwest Minnesota Eastern North Dakota Northern South Dakota * Effective this Friday afternoon from 530 PM until Midnight CDT. * Primary threats include... Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...A broken band of strong to severe thunderstorms will likely move east into the Watch area during the evening from the west. Severe gusts ranging from 60-70 mph and perhaps large hail are the main threats with the more intense thunderstorms. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 85 statute miles east and west of a line from 20 miles north of Hallock MN to 20 miles east southeast of Mobridge SD. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU5). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 253...WW 254... AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 400. Mean storm motion vector 25035. ...Smith
Texas ~ Bye-Bye Storms, Hello Blistering Heat & Perhaps Wildfires
We are on the backside of some very nasty weather that has affected the Lone Star state. Houston will be cleaning up for quite some time in the wake of hurricane force winds yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who perished from these storms. The heat cranks back up […]
SPC Tornado Watch 254
WW 254 TORNADO AL FL GA 172000Z – 180300Z 
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 254 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 400 PM EDT Fri May 17 2024 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of Southeast Alabama Northern Florida Panhandle Southwest Georgia * Effective this Friday afternoon and evening from 400 PM until 1100 PM EDT. * Primary threats include... A few tornadoes possible Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely SUMMARY...Thunderstorms will intensify this afternoon along a surface boundary and track eastward across the watch area. Locally severe storms are expected, with damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes possible. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 35 statute miles north and south of a line from 75 miles west of Dothan AL to 30 miles east northeast of Moultrie GA. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 253... AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 27030. ...Hart