The atmosphere is setting up for what could be described as a major tornado outbreak during the day tomorrow (Friday March 2). The current forecasts have the thunderstorms forming around noon, rapidly intensifying, and lasting into the evening and nighttime hours. The SPC has issued a moderate risk for severe weather for areas from AL/MS, a large part of Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as parts of Indiana and Ohio. There is a potential for long-track, intense tornadoes in the strongest storms that develop, as well as a damaging wind and large hail threat.
According to a Facebook post by the NWS, the SPC will likely upgrade the moderate risk to a "high risk" tomorrow -- the highest risk they issue. They only issue one or two high risks per year excluding last year. This has great potential to be a serious weather event, and it's one that needs to be taken seriously by anyone who lives in this area.
Contrary to what some local meteorologists are saying, this will NOT be as bad as the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. This has the possibility to be the biggest outbreak since April 27, but it will NOT be as bad as that tragic day. That was a once-in-a-generation outbreak that requires the perfect conditions in the atmosphere to occur. While all indications point to this being a potentially significant tornado outbreak, it is not analogous to the April 27th event.
