4/29 - 12am CDT - Final Exams/Derby/Storm Chasing

It's been a long week of packing and final exams at Mississippi State University. I finished my chemistry, world geography, and calculus II final exams this week and I'll be taking my English composition II exam just before I leave for Louisville this evening. My car is just about packed (yes, all of my stuff really does "fit" in my Honda Fit) and I have just a few more hours here on campus before I depart this evening.

I'll be returning home just before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Right now I think we may have some weather trouble on Saturday as a pair of low pressure systems to the west try to turn north as they near the Mississippi River. Heavy rain will be a major issue for Derby according to the latest computer models. There's even a risk for some severe weather around the region at that time, but I think heavy rain will be the bigger story around the Ohio Valley. If you think the infield at Churchill Downs is crazy during good weather, get ready for a muddy mess in the heavy rain. I'm a bit concerned that there may be ongoing thunderstorms near the 6 o'clock hour, which might mean a postponement of the Derby. We'll see how the weather situation develops!

You've probably noticed that I switched out the banner of the blog to prepare for my upcoming storm chasing trip. I just can't believe that I'm only 9 days away from a month's worth of storm chasing in the Plains with Storm Chasing Adventure Tours. I'll be bringing you 1080p HD video, pictures, chase reports and more on this blog and through my Twitter and Facebook accounts daily during the chase. I'm looking forward to meeting all our new and returning guests this year on our tours. Meteorologist Kevin Harned of WAVE 3 TV in Louisville, who has been a tour guide and severe weather expert with Storm Chasing Adventure Tours for years, will be joining us during my last week of chasing starting May 29th. It'll be great to have another Louisvillian out there with us, and I'm sure Kevin will be broadcasting his own storm chasing updates on WAVE 3 throughout the week.

All the storm chasing action on my blog starts May 8th!

4/27 - 4:15pm - MSU Forecast Video

We're in for a nice couple days here in Starkville as we recover from this weekend's severe weather outbreak. Expect sunny skies until Friday, when chances for thunderstorms will increase ahead of a cold front coming from the west. There may be some strong or even severe storms on Saturday, but heavy rain will be the big story for the weekend and even into next week.



Sadly, this will be my last MSU forecast for this academic year. I'm heading back home to Louisville on Thursday to prepare for my month-long storm chasing trip with Storm Chasing Adventure Tours. I'll be flying out to Amarillo on May 8th (only 10 days away) and we'll start chasing on May 9th. I'll be blogging about my trip here as well as giving you updates on Facebook and Twitter throughout each chasing day. If and when we see a supercell and/or a tornado, I'll be sure to post high-definition video of it right here on the blog. It's going to be an excellent month!

4/23 - 2pm - Severe Weather Outbreak on Saturday

A very serious severe weather situation is developing for Saturday across Mississippi and into Western and Central Alabama. Current indications are pointing toward a historic severe weather outbreak over much of the Deep and Mid South, with a swath of potentially large, long-tracked tornadoes from Mid Mississippi all the way to Birmingham, AL. The SPC has placed a large portion of the South under a MODERATE Risk of severe weather:

There may be areas that could go into a HIGH Risk threat tomorrow, particularly from Starkville to Columbus to Birmingham, AL. We'll see what happens as the setup develops tomorrow morning. Risks during this outbreak include large hail (up to baseball or larger size) and damaging winds in excess of 80mph along with the tornado threat.

After some non-severe storms tonight, severe weather should begin a bit after daybreak tomorrow around Starkville (including Mississippi State University) and most of East Mississippi. The tornado outbreak will most likely ramp up around 9 or 10am tomorrow and last through the early to mid afternoon hours as supercell thunderstorms transverse the region. During this time, everyone needs to be on alert and ready to take shelter in a basement or a central room without windows on a lower level should tornado sirens sound. At around 3 or 4pm, a squall line of severe, wind-driven thunderstorms will cross through and we should be in the clear once that is finished.

I don't think I've covered a severe weather event this big before, so it's going to be a very active day tomorrow. This is not a time to be scared, but one to be on alert. If everyone practices severe weather safety tomorrow (taking shelter in a basement or central room when a tornado siren is heard or if a tornado warning is issued), we can minimize the human impact of this outbreak. Stay alert!

4/20 - 5pm - MSU Video Forecast

We're happy to have the sunshine return today after a dreary period of weather yesterday. More turbulent weather is on the way for the later part of the week, including a chance for some severe weather on Saturday. Right now it appears as if the greatest risk for severe weather will be from the Alabama/Mississippi state line to Arkansas and Louisiana.. The main threats will be high wind and hail, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out as well. I'll have more on this chance for severe weather as it develops!



It's hard to believe that there are only 17 days until I leave for my storm chasing trip!

4/18 - 2:30pm - MSU 7-Day Forecast

We're in for a bit of a roller coaster this week with a mix of sunshine, clouds, and storms. Temperatures will range from the upper 60's to the lower 80's for highs and lows should take a tumble into the 40's temporarily. Severe weather may become an issue on Friday or Saturday because of high atmospheric instability, dewpoints, and shear during that time. We'll keep an eye on it!


19 days left until I leave for my month-long storm chasing trip!

4/13 - 4:45pm - MSU Video Forecast

If you've enjoyed the weather over the past few days, get ready for more of the same as we head throughout the week. Unfortunately, the sunny skies and warm temperatures will have to take a break this weekend as a cold front approaches Mississippi from the north. Showers and thunderstorms are expected sometime between Saturday and Sunday as this front approaches.



Only 24 days left until I depart for Amarillo, TX to go storm chasing! Be sure to log on to this blog between May 8th and June 5th to get in on all the storm chasing action.

4/11 - 1:30pm - MSU 7 Day Forecast

I don't think you can really say anything bad about this week's forecast! High pressure will stay in place for the week, meaning we'll keep the sunny skies and temperatures near 80.


Only 26 days until I leave for my storm chasing trip! I'll be joining Storm Chasing Adventure Tours in Amarillo, TX as a tour guide and technology assistant on May 8th. Be sure to check out my storm chasing blog from May 8th to June 5th!

4/6 - 5pm - MSU Forecast Video

We may see some severe weather late tomorrow night in Starkville as a cold front makes its way across Mississippi. The main threats will be large hail and wind, but I would not rule out an isolated tornado or two. The rest of the week will be cooler, but at least the rain will be out of here!



Don't forget to tune in to The Weather Channel this evening at 8/7c to see my Aurora, NE tornado footage on Storm Stories. One of our tour guests who was on our chase that day will be interviewed as well. Should be a great look back at my first tornado intercept!

4/4 - 10pm - MSU 7-Day Forecast

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! It looks like we're in for back-to-back good weather weeks here as high pressure again takes control across the Southeast. The only chance of rain in the near future looks to be on Thursday morning, but that should taper off by the afternoon. The rest of the week looks sunny and warm!


On Tuesday April 6th at 8pm/7pm central, some of my footage from the June 2009 Aurora, NE tornado will air on "Storm Stories" on The Weather Channel. This show is a part of Tornado Week. I'm not sure how much or or little of the footage will air, but I do know that one of our tour guests was interviewed on-camera for this episode. In any case I will record the episode and upload the parts that our chase group is featured in. Should be fun to see how The Weather Channel edited the video from all the different chasers together!