Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Severe storms are possible Wednesday

While a potent upper storm system tracks through toward Ohio and affects the Mid-Atlantic today and tonight, strong to severe thunderstorms are possible. Threats from any severe storms that develop will include damaging straight line winds, tornadoes, and potentially some hail. Conditions will be in place this afternoon and evening that will be right for storm intensification (warm enough into the upper 70s, humid from Gulf and Atlantic moisture, with upper-level lift). The two low pressure storm systems we've been talking about merging over our region is already happening early Wednesday morning. At the upper levels, this is forming one potent closed low pressure system within a deep upper-level trough to Virginia's west. The limiting factor for severe weather, though, is much drier air rushing into the region aloft as a result of that upper trough. That is scouring out some of our moisture, which we call a "dry slot."

That upper low will track northward through Ohio and into Canada by late Thursday, with much cooler air rushing into our region behind the exiting storm system and its surface cold front. It will remain windy in central Virginia Thursday with gusts around 30-40 mph. Stay with CBS6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.