Mesoscale Discussion 1605
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1031 AM CDT Thu Aug 31 2017
Areas affected...Parts of eastern Mississippi into western Alabama
Concerning...Severe potential...Watch possible
Valid 311531Z - 311730Z
Probability of Watch Issuance...60 percent
SUMMARY...Some increase in the risk for generally isolated and
relatively short-lived tornadoes may occur through midday and early
afternoon. It is not yet certain that a watch will be needed, but
trends are being monitored for this possibility.
DISCUSSION...East of the remnant circulation center of Harvey,
tropical boundary layer moisture (mid 70s+ F surface dew points)
remains present in a narrow corridor roughly centered near the
Mississippi/Alabama state border area. Breaks in cloud cover across
this region have allowed for some insolation and destabilization, as
a broken band of convection pivots across the region. Coinciding
with a broad belt of 30-50 kt southerly 850 mb flow, which is
contributing to sizable low-level hodographs where near surface flow
remains southeasterly (mainly ahead of the broken band of
convection), at least some risk for brief tornadoes remains evident.
However, the extent of this threat remains unclear, and will
probably hinge on whether rain cooled air now present across much of
central and southern Alabama can modify appreciably. Currently this
seems unlikely, but a couple of corridors of substantive further
boundary layer destabilization seem at least possible. One of these
may extend north and east of Biloxi MS into southwestern Alabama
(near/north of Mobile). The other may develop near Tuscaloosa
northwestward into areas near/east of Tupelo and Columbus MS.