A feature that got organized along the Gulf Coast last weekend threatened to bring some showers and storms as far north as Joplin, but alas, that was not the case. Well, sure, there were a few sprinkles on the 15th, even a rumble of thunder, but it wasn’t a washout, and that rain didn’t return on Saturday. There were plenty of clouds, though, and a little surge of cooler air, keeping temperatures below forecasts on every verifying period except the Friday low, in which the clouds kept things a bit warmer overnight. There was a tie at the top, between The Weather Channel and Accuweather. Actuals: Friday, .05 inches of rain, High 69, Low 50 Saturday – High 60, Low 45
It’s time for another road trip. We’re just going to take one day to head from Alabama to Missouri, crossing the Mississippi River and trying to dodge rain drops. It’s a 659 mile journey that we will cover at a pace of about 64.3mph, which is slowed by Memphis and not spending as much time as we would like on arterial interstates.
Anniston, Alabama
High pressure will be in retreat over the southern US, but it will still be comfortably in place in northern Alabama and Mississippi tomorrow. Dry skies with mostly sunny conditions will guide us through Birmingham and Tupelo, but an organizing system in Louisiana will start to kick some clouds north by the time we reach Memphis. Don’t be surprised if there are a few spits of rain starting around Hardy, Arkansas, which may linger the rest of the way through the Missouri Ozarks. North of the highest terrain, from Springfield to Joplin, it should be a bit drier, but the chances for rain are certainly not going to be zero.
The tornado season has been off to a lively start. 2022 has already seen deadly tornadoes, most notably in Winterset, Iowa last month, but fortunately, we haven’t had any that were historic in their catastrophe. As we forecast in Joplin, however, it’s a reminder for all of us to be prepared, especially this time of year, and in this part of the country.
At 753AM, CT, Joplin was reporting clear skies and a temperature of 33 degrees. the late season cold, amid clear skies behind a strong cold front has lead to many frost and freeze advisories in western Missouri, northwest Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The large area of low pressure responsible for the adventuresome weather in the middle of the country this week is now parked over the Great Lakes. The only satellite evidence in the Plains is a few puffs of clouds from Rockford, Illinois to Topeka Kansas, which will likely not develop into anything, and will certainly leave Joplin alone. Fortunately, with spring having arrived, the clear skies will mean a warming trend, even with the cold air mass presently in southwest Missouri. A deep trough lies over the northern US, fostering the strong feature referenced earlier, but another ridge is rising through the southern Rockies. By Friday evening, convergence area of the two jets will become active with showers and isolated storms, with low pressure developing in the Lower Mississippi Valley. This will be primarily flow driven, rather than air mass driven, so cold air is not going to arrive in Joplin on Saturday. Because of that, the northwest flank of the storm will still feature a little bit of convection, intermittently on Saturday. Tomorrow – Increasing clouds, with an isolated shower. Chances increasing late. High 71, Low 45 Saturday – Showers with isolated thunderstorms, mostly cloudy, High 64, Low 48
TWC: Tomorrow – Rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. High 73, Low 50 Saturday – Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 63, Low 47
AW: Tomorrow – Breezy in the morning; otherwise, cloudy with a shower in spots in the afternoon High 70, Low 49 Saturday – Mostly cloudy and breezy with a passing shower High 63, low 47
NWS: Tomorrow – A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly cloudy, High 72, low 49 Saturday – Mostly sunny (early rain), High 61, Low 40
WB: Tomorrow – Breezy. Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, High 68, low 49 Saturday – Cooler. Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers in the morning, High 62, Low 50
WN: Tomorrow – Mostly cloudy, High 72, Low 36 Saturday – Partly cloudy with light rain showers, High 61, Low 46
FIO: Tomorrow – Overcast throughout the day. High 72, Low 48 Saturday – Possible light rain in the morning High 62, Low 47
Weathernation is going far afield from the rest of the outlets. I had to recheck their low temperature multiple times. Satellite is pretty clear, except for that band of clouds I noted.
