A Wacky Weekend
Weather conditions will go from one extreme to the other over the course of just a couple of days this weekend. Anything and everything from thunderstorms to accumulating snow can be expected as a potent spring storm plows north and east.
Now, first let’s touch on the severe weather. While an isolated severe cell or two is possible in east TN Friday, I don’t think we’re looking at any sort of widespread severe weather outbreak. That will remain to our west, where our friends in Memphis, Jackson, and Nashville will need to stay tuned to local media. I actually don’t even think we’re looking at much in the way of significant rainfall as this front comes through Friday night. Most rainfall amounts should be under one half inch. Otherwise, most of the daytime hours Friday are dry and very warm. Temperatures will soar to near summer levels for some, in fact.
Now, that’s good for the spring side of the storm. The winter side of this baby will move in during the day Sunday (after a cloudy, but seasonal Saturday). Sunday will feature a good amounts of cloud cover as the moist northwest upslope flow banks up against the western slope. Then, Sunday night, an upper level low will begin to take shape and slowly track across the Appalachians. This will combine with the MUCH colder temperatures and upslope flow to produce periods of rain and snow showers by Sunday evening, switching on over to all snow Sunday night. Periods of snow will continue during the day Monday.
Now, it’s difficult to get much accumulation out of a storm this time of year during the day. This is due to the more intense high sun angle. That said, accumulating snow is still possible if the snowfall rates are heavy enough. Regardless, snow should accumulate down to the 2,000 foot level Sunday night through Monday night (1-3″). For those folks above 4,000 feet, well you may be in store for snowfall amounts of around half a foot, or so, by the time all’s said and done.
Hopefully you read the post and listened to the pod cast from a few weeks ago targeting the 5th-15th of April as a time period where one more bout of winter weather would “impose” itself. After this, I think the snow will be over with for the ‘07-’08 season….
Be sure to stay tuned to www.mountaincityweathercenter.com over the weekend for the latest on this developing weather situation.
