Tornado Digest: Fairly benign April set to go out with a bang

Tornado near Shelmerdine, NC on April 25. (YouTube)

Looking back at the week of April 20-26, and a brief look ahead.

It was a pretty active week — for this year. That was mainly because of a mini tornado outbreak that occurred in North Carolina on Friday, April 25. Several supercells tracked across eastern parts of the state dropping a number of tornadoes.

Other than that, just a few scattered instances of tornado activity on a few days. Hardly even a story for this time of year.

Alas, we are in late April and closing in on the peak of the spring season, and quite a few tornadoes appear to be just around the corner.

Tornado activity across the U.S. April 20-26. Note: Another t-storm watch was issued in the intermountain west and is not shown.

April 20 – Northwest Texas

Chaser paradise! A weekend and a beautiful storm over open countryside. Moisture was a bit lacking for much in the way of tornado activity, but the terrain was great and the storms were gorgeous. At least one brief tornado touchdown was noted near the Oklahoma and Texas borders.

438pm Greene County NC tornado warned storm @wxbrad @nsj #NCWX pic.twitter.com/ji9pnMpoWZ

— Ricky Matthews (@wxrjm) April 25, 2014

Rotating pic.twitter.com/6CUFWPXRgR

— Matt Engelbrecht (@EngelWX) April 25, 2014

Shelmerdine, NC. Looking toward Greenville.

April 26 – Plains

This was slated as the possible beginning of a multi-day significant severe weather episode. Forcing came in a bit slow for much to happen. A few severe storms did develop, but mainly not until near and after dark. No tornado activity was reported.

Storm now entering Oklahoma is severe warned for large hail. Golfball hail possible. #okwx pic.twitter.com/PfJCfCqvKn

— TornadoTitans.com (@TornadoTitans) April 27, 2014

Outbreak?

A slow-moving upper level system will help spawn day after day of higher end severe weather starting this afternoon across the Mid South. The peak of the activity starts today and perhaps lasts through Tuesday. Tornadoes are likely on each day. Some should be strong, and perhaps even violent.

Here’s a NAM4k radar simulation over Arkansas this evening, showing several large storms over the region which lies about in the middle of the Storm Prediction Center’s moderate risk:

(Weatherbell.com)

Around the same time, SPC SREF shows very high significant tornado parameter values:

(Storm Prediction Center)

A bumpy ride ahead, and one that may roll through the night tonight bringing extra dangers along with.

Originally posted at 11:35 a.m.