MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0051
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0954 AM CST THU JAN 12 2023
AREAS AFFECTED...WEST-CENTRAL AL...FAR EAST-CENTRAL MS
CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 17...
VALID 121554Z - 121730Z
THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 17 CONTINUES.
SUMMARY...MOST FAVORABLE MESOSCALE ENVIRONMENT FOR SUPERCELLS AND A
TORNADO RISK IS FOCUSED NEAR THE MS/AL BORDER AND INTO WEST-CENTRAL
AL THROUGH 1130AM CST.
DISCUSSION...SUBJECTIVE MESOSCALE ANALYSIS SHOWS TEMPERATURES
WARMING INTO THE LOWER 70S OVER WEST-CENTRAL AL TO THE EAST OF A
BROKEN BAND OF STORMS WITH SEVERAL QUASI-DISCRETE UPDRAFTS. SURFACE
DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE LOWER 60S AND RAP FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE
AROUND 1000 J/KG MLCAPE WHEN MODIFYING FOR CURRENT SURFACE
OBSERVATIONS. LONG HODOGRAPHS WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A
SUPERCELLULAR STORM MODE. IN ADDITION, AROUND 200-250 M2/S2 0-0.5
KM EFFECTIVE SRH IS INDICATED. GIVEN THIS OVERLAP OF
BUOYANCY/SHEAR, IT APPEARS THE MOST FAVORABLE MESOSCALE ENVIRONMENT
WILL BE FOCUSED OVER WEST-CENTRAL AL OVER THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS. A
TORNADO RISK WILL CONTINUE WITH ANY ROBUST SUPERCELL.