Tornado Threat Forecast

Tornado Threat Forecast: June 2-8, 2014

The forecasts have returned, and there is stuff to talk about in early June! Imagine that. Still can’t manage to get any persistent, more traditional activity, though. Oh well. We must play with the cards we are dealt. Tuesday looks nice if storms can latch onto the warm front and go nuts.

1-3 Day
20140602_tornado_forecast1-3
Monday

Southern Kansas, northern Oklahoma — TORNADO RANGE: 0-2 — CONFIDENCE: High
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Moderate to high instability, good directional shear
Cons: Poor low to mid-level speed shear, questionable storm coverage/mode/intensity, somewhat-high LCLs, steady/rising heights, lack of a major lifting mechanism

Tuesday

Nebraska, far northern Kansas, mid-Mississippi Valley — TORNADO RANGE: 3-10 — CONFIDENCE: Normal
Expected Tornado Hotspot: Central Nebraska/along the warm front
Pros: Strong speed and directional shear, moderate to high instability, good upper-level dynamics
Cons: High to very high LCLs south of the warm front, questionable storm coverage south of the warm front during the afternoon and early evening, storms turn into an overnight MCS

Wednesday

Northern and central High Plains — TORNADO RANGE: 0-3 — CONFIDENCE: Normal
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Some directional shear with upslope, low to moderate instability, some upper-level dynamics
Cons: Weak speed shear, fairly high LCLs

Southern Midwest, Ohio Valley — TORNADO RANGE: 1-5 — CONFIDENCE: Normal
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Moderate to high instability
Cons: Mostly linear/quasi-linear storm mode, unidirectional flow aloft, weak mid-level lapse rates

4-7 Day
20140602_tornado_forecast4-7
Thursday

Central High Plains — TORNADO RANGE: 0-2 — CONFIDENCE: Normal
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Some directional shear with upslope, low to moderate instability
Cons: Weak speed shear in the low to mid levels, somewhat high LCLs

Eastern Carolinas — TORNADO RANGE: 0-1 — CONFIDENCE: Normal
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Moderate instability, decent speed shear, low LCLs
Cons: Weak directional shear, unidirectional flow aloft

Friday

Central Plains — TORNADO RANGE: 1-5 — CONFIDENCE: Low
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Moderate instability, good directional shear, decent speed shear
Cons: Weak low-level speed shear, capping concerns

Saturday

Central Plains, mid-Mississippi Valley — TORNADO RANGE: 2-7 — CONFIDENCE: Low
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Moderate to high instability, decent/good speed and directional shear
Cons: Questionable storm coverage in the area with the best atmosphere, high LCLs possible

Sunday

Southern Midwest, Tennessee Valley — TORNADO RANGE: 1-5 — CONFIDENCE: Low
Expected Tornado Hotspot: None
Pros: Low to moderate instability, some low-level directional shear, decent speed shear, decent/good upper-level dynamics
Cons: Mostly unidirectional flow aloft, mediocre lapse rates, cold front forcing more linear storm mode

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Operational Meteorologist at WeatherBug (Earth Networks). See full bio.

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