STATUS: IOP Watch

The atmosphere is making a valiant effort to hold off severe weather until just after this year’s VORTEX-SE observing period.  We continue watching the last half of next week.  It looks like one of strong systems that will impact the Plains early next week will be lifting out over the Ohio Valley, and a trailing front may make it into N AL ~ Thur 28 April.  CAPE should be present, but flow (especially in the lower troposphere) may be too weak for sufficient shear.  There are hints that eventually one of these systems will move eastward into the lower MS Valley with quite a bit of energy.  But this may be too late for this year’s campaign.