Hope that 2025 is the best ever for you and yours.  Thank you for reading our blog. 

Here are some preliminary snow and winter storm forecasts from now until Monday, January 6th.  Snowfall Now Until Noon Friday Additional information as of 3:15pm Tuesday: Below is a forecast of snowfall between now and 11:59pm Thursday.  Major Winter Storm Friday through Monday Night This storm not only has the potential to cause heavy snow but it also will likely produce freezing rain and sleet. Remember: freezing rain may cause power outages.  Snowfall Freezing Rain or Sleet It is important to note  that this model (the ECMWF) sometimes has a northward bias this far out, meaning the actual path of the ice (and, possibly, snow) may be 50-100 miles farther south than shown above.  Forecast Low Temperatures Sunday Morning This gives you an idea of the forecast temperatures Sunday morning, which will be considerably colder than the central United States has been enjoying the past few weeks. 

12:35pm Update: While this forecast is still valid,  there is a newer forecast here . A major winter storm is likely in the central U.S. this weekend. Here are some details.  Please take this into account if you are going to travel this weekend. 6am Saturday to 6am Sunday This storm will be moving from northwest to southeast. Most all of this precipitation will be in the form of snow with some sleet possible in Missouri. Not shown on the map is the potential for some freezing rain developing in Kansas Saturday night. 6am Sunday to 6am Monday I have modified this map to pull the potential for freezing rain and/or moderate to heavy snow farther south into Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Some sleet or freezing rain is possible over the southwest third of Missouri. In the rest of the area, moderate to heavy snow is likely.  This storm has the potential to significantly disrupt airline travel at Chicago and, possibly, Detroit.  Below are forecast temperatures (not wind chil...

Unfortunately, the relatively mild winter enjoyed by much of the nation is going to end except in the Pacific Coast states. Here is some information for planning purposes: Temperatures for 6am Wednesday Temperatures for 6am Saturday There is a good chance of freezing rain and/or snow in the central United States toward the weekend.  6am Saturday to 6am Sunday Below are statistical maps that are informed by the computer models indicating where there are relatively high probabilites of 4" or more of snow or  .25" or more of freezing rain.  6am Sunday to 6am Monday If you are planning to drive significant distances or fly this weekend, it will be important to factor this winter storm into your plans.  Of course, I will begin regular updates starting tomorrow. Please check back!

The people of Athens, Alabama, were struck by an EF-1 tornado Saturday night with no tornado warning. And, with our current radar network, warning of the tornado was not possible.  From time to time, I've mentioned there is a small percentage of tornadoes, usually weak, for which an advance tornado warning is not possible. That was the case in Athens. Radar Data The tornado touched down at 11:15pm. The radar data from the nearby Huntsville radar is below. 11:12pm 11:15pm 11:17pm At left, the reflectivity data, the type of radar data you see on television. There are no tornado signatures on any of the three frames. At right is the Doppler wind velocity data. No indication of a tornado at all.  The town of Athens is underlined. The tornado ended at 11:20pm. Unfortunately, we could successfully warn of this tornado. The good news is that there were no deaths or injuries.  Would more radars have allowed a warning to be made? It is possible, but I suspect this tornado spun up ...

 The threat of tornadoes has pretty well ended for the day.

The amber tint = tornado watch as of 10:15am EST.

The Babylon Bee provides terrific humor. You can access their great work here . 

Here is the tornado forecast for the rest of the night (till 6am CST). Red, hatched = high risk of strong tornadoes. Yellow, hatched = enhanced risk of strong tornadoes. Blown = significant risk of tornadoes.  This will be the last update of the night. Tornado Watch until 2am. Please make sure you have ways of getting warnings of tornadoes and 80 mph winds.  6:15pm  NWS believes the chances for tornadoes and damaging winds are increasing in Mississippi. They also say they are going to extend the tornado watch to the east later this evening.  5:35pm: The northwest part of the tornado watch has been cancelled Here is the area where tornadoes are more likely from 4:30 to 7:30pm. From Atmosphere Analytics Rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Tornado Watch till 9pm If you live in these areas it is vital  to monitor the weather until the watch expires at 9pm  Note the forecast is for "numerous strong tornadoes." A very rare "particularly dangerous situation" ...

The yellow, hatched area has an enhanced  risk of strong tornadoes. There is a risk of tornadoes in the Saturday night - Sunday morning overnight hours.  The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes.  There is also an enhanced risk of damaging thunderstorm winds.  It is important that people in the brown and yellow areas keep track of the weather throughout the day and tomorrow night if you live along or east of the Mississippi River.  Of course, I will update again tomorrow morning and I will provide updated on Twitter @usweatherexpert . Please follow me for real-time updates. 

Images from Matt Van Swol .....in your year-end giving plans.  While the private sector and religious groups have done a great job making up for the Biden Administration's criminal negligence, they can only do so much without our financial aid.  NASCAR and Lowes donating 100 tiny homes on Christmas Day We suggest writingl checks to Samaritan's Purse and to EmergencyRV

Storm coverage is over for Thursday evening.  Saturday may see a significant tornado situation. Please check back tomorrow and Saturday.  ---- Please note the tornado watch is forecasting  strong tornadoes.  8:45p, tornadoes are in progress in the north half of the tornado watch. Please continue to monitor the weather.  -- 12:50p Update -- Please keep up on the weather in these areas. I will be posting updates on Twitter/X from time to time @usweatherexpert .  Please note: A strong tornado or two is possible.  10:50am Update The yellow area has an enhanced risk of strong tornadoes. This forecast is from the NWS Storm Prediction Center. I believe the risk of strong tornadoes should also include the area from Lewisville to Lake Charles by this evening. The area in brown has a significant risk of tornadoes later today.  The more intense thunderstorms are forecast to develop this afternoon and continue through the evening as they move from east to wes...

The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes on Thursday. There is even the possibility of a strong tornado or two. So, please keep an eye on the weather if you live in this area. Of course, I will update the forecast tomorrow morning. 

Today is a blessed day when Christians celebrate Christmas and the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. May today fill you with grace and the love of God, family and friends. 

Radar as of  12:02pm CST:There are increasing delays in Dallas. The snow has cleared the major airports in the Northeast. This is the 12:02pm radar.  Unfortunately as of 12:38pm..... DFW is completely surrounded by thunderstorms and average delays are 2 hours and 30 minutes.  12:40pm: While the above is the FAA's "official" delay listing, I checked a couple of American Airlines' flights at random and they are running 4-5 hours late.  If you have not departed on a flight through DFW this afternoon/evening, get on the phone or go to the airport and ask, "Can you route me through a different hub than DFW?" You will be better off.  A thunderstorm with heavy rain is in progress at Love Field which will result in delays. If you are traveling to or through DFW or DAL this afternoon, I urge  you to use the airlines' web sites to check the status of your flights. 

There are two areas of flood concern the rest of this week. The first is the three West Coast states. The second is from the Ozarks to northeast Texas and northern Louisiana.  I realize that monitoring the weather during the holiday season is a bummer but it is necessary in these cases. I will update from time-to-time. 

Here's the forecast for 6pm CST this evening.  Unfortunately, flooding is likely in the West and possible in the Ozarks before the week is out. 

Above is the forecast for 6pm Monday evening. There may be weather-related airline delays at the hub airports in Detroit, Seattle and, later, San Francisco.   However, in the morning, there will be icy areas in the Midwest. White Christmas Chance Precipitation Forecast This is the forecast precipitation from now until 6pm next Sunday. Flooding is possible along the West Coast due to rainfalls exceeding ten inches in spots and extremely heavy, wet snow in the high elevations. The Rockies and Wasach will see additional snow for skiing.