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Why the lack of storms in central plains??
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 6:58 pm
by Stormless2003
Does anyone know when our severe weather season here in the central plains will get going?? Because this has been about the slowest year I have ever seen in this area. We've only had two severe weather events that were even mildly noteworthy, and it's almost April, our most active month! It seems like 80% of the storm systems that are forcasted for this area bust, and end up being dry fronts. Our dew points have rarely gotton above 50, and this is also unusual. Are there any signs of this dull, dry pattern changing, or will this be another lackluster severe weather season just like last year? As a storm enthusiast, I sure hope we don't see another really slow spring. A spring without storms just isn't the same.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:02 pm
by Rainband
I am not an expert just an enthusiast..Does it have something to do with all the systems dipping down futher south and starving the area of Gulf moisture such as the one moving across florida today.
Johnathan
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:16 pm
by wx247
I think you need to realize that not every season will be the same. It is just like with the lack of snow in certain regions...let's wait until the season is over...then we can complain.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:24 pm
by Stormless2003
Yea, those coastal lows always screw it up for us. Everytime it looks like we're going to get some nice storms here, a low forms down south along the gulf coast, preventing adequate moisture feed into the plains. It would be nice to hear the expert's input on this. But as far as I can tell, the pattern isn't changing.
Oh well, guess theres always next year.. oh wait, that's what I said last spring, lol
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:31 pm
by mf_dolphin
Just remember, last hurricane season veryone was talking about a "bust" season right before we had one of the busiest months ever!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:32 pm
by Rainband
Stormless2003 wrote:Yea, those coastal lows always screw it up for us. Everytime it looks like we're going to get some nice storms here, a low forms down south along the gulf coast, preventing adequate moisture feed into the plains. It would be nice to hear the expert's input on this. But as far as I can tell, the pattern isn't changing.
Oh well, guess theres always next year.. oh wait, that's what I said last spring, lol
Since Elnino is weakening and I believe this will inhibit those lows. It will force the Jet futher north and tap gulf moisture once again..It is supposed to be neutral or La Nina this hurricane season so..IMHO El nino will not affect you much longer..

Experts!! speak up!!!!!!
Johnathan
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:48 pm
by wx247
Remember...it isn't over till its over.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:17 pm
by JQ Public
I dunno is it me or is it still early for y'all? Maybe another week and it should really kick in for y'all esp with all that cool air around now.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:23 pm
by wx247
Well I don't know where Stormless is from but April, May, and early June is our stormiest time of the year. The farther north you go, the later in the season it is.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:28 pm
by vbhoutex
Stormless, I don't know where you are, but our season in Texas starts this month. I've already had 3 Severe T'storms this year in Houston on the West side of town. Last one was 2 nights ago with marble sized hail and 40 mph winds. Previous storms have produced several funnel clouds and winds up to 80 mph.
Johnathan why should the experts speak up when we have you? Yours is a pretty good analysis of what is to come, IMO. As the spring progresses and the jet stream lifts North the GOM moisture will return to the Central Plains like you said. I would expect an average season this year though since the pattern change appears to be coming a little later than usual, though not that much later. This last blast of winter this weekend should herald the beginning of the pattern change I think. I'm going to pm one of the Severe Experts on this board and get him to chime in on this. Of course, if there is someone out there that is much more knowledgeable on this than I am and I have mispoken myself, please feel free to correct me.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:39 pm
by Guest
I'm from Texas and our busy season just started - with the ending of winter and beginnig of spring - our severe weather threat continues - then hurricane season starts on June 1st.
Patricia
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:46 pm
by Stormless2003
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I'm from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Slow year so far. Hopefully that'll change.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:58 pm
by JetMaxx
It really isn't tornado season yet in the central or southern Plains.
Right now (late March-early April) is peak tornado season for the southeast....states like Georgia (where 6 died last week), Alabama, and Mississippi.
Tornado season usually peaks in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas in late April and May...and sometimes even in June from Kansas ssw to the Texas Panhandle. It's just too early to say how intense the tornado season will turn out in those areas.
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 8:32 am
by wx247
I agree Jetmaxx!
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 11:04 am
by StormCrazyIowan
I am definitely no expert! I just put that it would be busy like 1999 out of sheer wishful thinking! The last 3 seasons here in Iowa haven't produced Diddly!!! There was one tornado in a town about 5 miles from me (which I conveniently wasn't in Iowa to see, GRRRR

) but it has been really wimpy compared to some seasons I remember!
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 11:06 am
by chadtm80
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:32 pm
by Stormless2003
Wow, you guys are so nice! Thanks for the welcome, it really lifted my spirits!

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:41 pm
by StormCrazyIowan

No problem!
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:44 pm
by Rainband
vbhoutex wrote:Stormless, I don't know where you are, but our season in Texas starts this month. I've already had 3 Severe T'storms this year in Houston on the West side of town. Last one was 2 nights ago with marble sized hail and 40 mph winds. Previous storms have produced several funnel clouds and winds up to 80 mph.
Johnathan why should the experts speak up when we have you? Yours is a pretty good analysis of what is to come, IMO. As the spring progresses and the jet stream lifts North the GOM moisture will return to the Central Plains like you said. I would expect an average season this year though since the pattern change appears to be coming a little later than usual, though not that much later. This last blast of winter this weekend should herald the beginning of the pattern change I think. I'm going to pm one of the Severe Experts on this board and get him to chime in on this. Of course, if there is someone out there that is much more knowledgeable on this than I am and I have mispoken myself, please feel free to correct me.
Thanks for those kind words..Guess I am learning something LOL
Johnathan
