Here are some interesting severe weather facts for you. So far in 2008 there have been 291 reported tornadoes. 136 in January and 155 in February. That is an astonishing increase over the 3 year average of 59! All indications are that the weather pattern will remain active into the first part of March. So stay tuned!

Another strong weather front will bring the chance for some downpours and gusty winds by very late Saturday night or very early Sunday morning. Right now the tornado threat with this system is very low. The main weather associated with the front should be some heavy rain and gusty winds as the front comes in from the west.
On Saturday, the storm will be organizing over Texas and there could be some nasty storms with tornadoes near the Houston area. At first glance, the storm looks ominous. But when you get down to the nitty gritty some key severe weather element will be missing when the front comes through. 1. Dry air at the surface and moist air aloft will keep the air fairly stable contributing to a heavy rain threat. 2. Main storm energy will be passing off to our northwest and 3. The squall line with heavy rain should cut off the supply of gulf warm and humid air keeping us on the "cool side" for severe storms. Hopefully this will come through as planned....check back on the wapt.com weather page for the very latest.

DAVID

Once again another weather system moved through the area and produced severe weather. This afternoon, widespread straight line winds knocked down numerous trees mainly east of I-55. I did notice a circulation on the radar from just to the south of Pearl into Brandon. Storm Shield 16 indicated winds were near 100mph in this area and this is where there was a small tornado. HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HAPPENED.

A squall line (line of heavy rain/t-storms) was moving west to east across the area. The line of storms quickly intensified east of Jackson and the I-55 corridor. Strong winds descended quickly out of the squall line producing a widespread area of 50-60mph winds. I did notice a small rotation around Pearson Road in Pearl, to the east and along I-20 to just west of Brandon. It is in this small area a brief tornado spun up along the line of storms. It has been rated at EF1 with winds between 86-110mph. Right on with what Storm Shield was showing at the time which was 100mph winds in the area. Otherwise widespread straight line winds knocked down numerous trees. Especially dead and old and hallowed out trees. Unfortunatley large trees falling on power lines and homes is a bad combination. Brandon EOC told me Brandon had winds of around 50mph and that most of the trees kncoked down were pine or dead trees, possibly damaged from when Katrina went through the area.

The wind storm from today was very similar to a deracho. Google that on the internet for more details. Typically, you do not see a dreacho in the winter as it is more common in the warmer spring weather months.

It is also interesting to note that the Storm Prediction Center did not have the Jackson area under a tornado watch at the time. A tornado watch was in effect for the area generally south of Highway 84 which would be a line from Natchez to Brookhaven and on to the Hattiesburg area. A tornado warning was in effect at the time the storm hit near Pearl.

As of this writing the death toll is 55 from the tornadoes on February 5th. Its the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. in 23 years. In mid-Tennessee where 17 lost their lives it is the deadliest outbreak since 1933 when 35 were killed. In Arkansas, 13 died from the twisters the most in 1 day in 11 years.

2 tornadoes touched down near Oxford. The stronger of the 2 had winds of near 160mph. The sup;er cell thunderstorm that produced that tornado contiued for almost 300 miles from Mississippi, across Tennessee and into Kentucky. The cell produced numerous tornaodes along it 300 mile path.

Conditions were well forecasted for long lived deadly tornadoes yesterday as weather conditions were perfect for the storms to form. A powerful storm center approached the region from the plains States. Unseasonably warm and humid air covered the South with numerous record highs set. As the storm neared, an intense jetstream moves across the area with winds over 150mph. The polar jet was to the north and the subtropical jet to the south. Between the two the air rose vigorously kicking off intense super cell thundersorms. At the lower levels the winds went from south close to the ground to southwest higher up. Perfect to rotate the super cell thunderstorms.

A deadly day and one for the record books. Let us hope and pray for those affected by these storms.