National Weatherperson's Day and the anniversary of Super Tuesday

Today is National Weatherperson's Day. Yes, it really is a recognized day, and no, Hallmark has nothing to do with it (have you ever seen a Happy National Weatherperson's Day card??).

National Weatherperson's Day occurs on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of America's first weather observers in the late 18th century, and recognizes the mostly behind-the-scenes efforts of thousands of forecasters who work to make sure that you are informed on both a routine basis, but mostly in those times that really matter. While the most visible work is done by broadcasters who appear on your televisions each day, an even bigger force of nature is working out of the limelight to produce the data that is used, the models that are our guide, and the watches and warnings that get relayed to the you, the public, to keep you safe. The U.S. is fortunate to have the best weather forecasts and warnings, that are also the most widely available, in the world. Kudos to all who share a similar passion and dedication to their craft as I! (For more on the role of the National Weather Service in the weather enterprise, see this Weatherperson's Day article.)

Super Tuesday Outbreak Anniversary

February 5th is more than just National Weatherperson's Day though. It is also the anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks on record. On Super Tuesday, 2008, and into the wee hours of February 6th, 87 tornadoes touched down from the Mid-South into the Ohio Valley, killing 56 and injuring hundreds. At the time, it was the deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since 1985, rivaling the 1974 Super Outbreak and, later, the 2011 Super Outbreak.

Storm reports from Super Tuesday 2008. Red dots are tornadoes. Graphic courtesy SPC.

Locally, an EF-2 tornado touched down in Southaven, MS and traveled northeast into the city of Memphis in the Hickory Hill area, causing heavy damage to the Hickory Ridge Mall and the surrounding area, all while being captured on live TV by a skycam operated by WREG-TV. Further northeast, Jackson, TN will never forget the EF-4 that struck Union University, rendering 80% of the residential living accommodations uninhabitable, but taking no lives despite the dormitories being full of students.

Doppler Radar returns (precip left, wind velocity right) from the DeSoto/Shelby Co. tornado as it crosses the state line. The inverted green triangle shows the approximate position of the strongest radar-detected rotation.

Cirrus Weather Solutions' Birthday

Two years later (2010), on this very day, I officially opened a new business in the state of Tennessee, Cirrus Weather Solutions, LLC. It seemed an appropriate day to officially commence operation of a business devoted to keeping Mid-Southerners informed on weather regimes that affect the region and safe during severe weather events. Since then, Cirrus Weather Solutions has served as the umbrella organization for MemphisWeather.net, JacksonWeather.net, and StormWatch+, a mobile service that pushes precise, and fully customizable, severe weather notifications to the public and which was a natural by-product of Cirrus' mission to protect, inform, and educate.

Thank you all for making MemphisWeather.net one of your trusted weather sources! Your feedback (positive and "constructive") allows MWN to bring you the best weather information available for Memphis and the Mid-South. Social media provides an outlet for instant feedback so that we can refine our processes, even during severe weather events, and our mobile apps are one more way we can reach as many as possible when inclement weather threatens. I can't thank you enough for following along and providing feedback, downloading the apps, and supporting our mission!

Erik Proseus
MWN Meteorologist


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A wild ride ahead for the metro

Can Mother Nature make up her mind? Will Memphis be seeing six more weeks of winter or is spring right around the corner? Sadly, not even Punxsutawney Phil can tell at this point what’s next on this wild roller coaster ride of weather. But we’ve got your back here at MWN!

The Deep, Short Chill

As a cold front dragged south across the metro earlier on Thursday, it brought rain to northern Mississippi and cold air in its wake. Temperatures Thursday night are expected to slip into the low 30s across the area, while a brisk northeast wind at around ten miles per hour will bring wind chills (what it feels like outside) down into the 20s.

The skies may be clearing up for Friday, with some sun peeking out by the afternoon, but the temperatures will not be so quick to respond. Expect highs to only hit the mid 40s to end your work week, so have that winter jacket handy. Lows on Friday night, too, will be bitter, falling into the mid to upper 20s.

The culprit of the cold air expected over the next 48 to 72 hours – low pressure and its associated cold front sweeping south across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Cold air is digging down behind an area of low pressure that is shifting southeast across Louisiana, with high pressure building into its place across the Great Plains. The winds overnight on Thursday and into Friday will not help the situation, but relief should be in store by Saturday. Winds will become more bearable and highs should approach 50 once again.

Rain (and spring) returning

Despite the cold temperatures plunging back south, the pattern stays slightly unsettled into early next week. A chance of showers remains on Saturday, especially in northern Mississippi across Desoto and Marshall counties. However, things look a bit drier for Sunday, with some clearing and temperatures bumping up to near 60 once again.

The North American Model (NAM) shows a good chance for showers across northern Mississippi on Saturday (about halfway through the loop), while the Memphis metro has lower rain chances. (COD.edu)

Perhaps the best chance of rain, and maybe a few embedded thunderstorms, comes to start your work and school week on Monday into Tuesday. As warmer temperatures return, pushing Memphis back into the mid 60s to near 70, expect an increasing chance of showers and storms. The coverage for these should be more scattered on Monday, as opposed to the more widespread activity expected for Tuesday. Severe weather chances will be monitored, but at this time they appear fairly low.

The roller coaster of weather takes another deep dive Wednesday and into Thursday of next week, as conditions clear and temperatures fall. Expect highs in the 50s on Wednesday, before a chilly round of 40s moves in for Thursday. In the long-term though, we could see another warming trend coming for the following week.

And the roller coaster ride just keeps on moving.

Be sure to check out @memphisweather1 on Twitter and Facebook page for the latest on the weather in the metro area. Also, bookmark our website to check the human-powered MWN Forecast each morning before heading to work or getting the kids to the bus stop. The MWN app is also great on the go for checking in on Mother Nature. Pertinent links are all listed below.

Alex Herbst, Meteorologist
MWN Social Media Intern

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Follow MWN on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+
Visit MemphisWeather.net on the web or m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone.
Download our iPhone or Android apps, featuring StormWatch+ severe weather alerts!

MWN is a NOAA Weather Ready Nation Ambassador

Meteorologist Erik Proseus is an NWA Digital Seal Holder