Tornado Watch in West Tennessee for Saturday Morning
Weather Update – 4:30 p.m. – Friday
A Tornado Watch has been issued for Fayette and Hardeman counties through 6 a.m. Saturday. A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for thunderstorms producing tornadoes, but does not guarantee they’ll form. Hail and strong winds are also possible, but in this case any tornadoes that form will likely form along the incoming squall line of thunderstorms and be rain-wrapped.
A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for all of West Tennessee from tonight through Saturday. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation! Excessive rainfall, up to 2 inches an hour will be possible. Urban areas, low lands adjacent to rivers and streams, and low water crossings will be the most vulnerable to the heavy downpours. You should be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
TONIGHT
Showers and thunderstorms will begin moving into West Tennessee overnight with the main line approaching the Mississippi River after midnight. Showers will be heaviest after midnight with a potential for some thunderstorms to be strong that could produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. West Tennessee has a slight risk for severe weather tonight but the risk is higher as you go west where it’s an enhanced risk in Memphis and lower as you go east where it’s a marginal risk near the Tennessee River. Temperatures will only drop to the middle and upper 60s by sunrise Saturday morning with strong winds from the south overnight, even when it’s not raining.
Showers and thunderstorms will move through West Tennessee beyond sunrise Saturday morning. The potential for a second round of thunderstorms is looking less likely. Should that second round take place, the threat for severe weather will shift east slowly from the later morning through the early afternoon before crossing the Tennessee River Saturday afternoon.
In terms of rainfall, we’re expecting most of West Tennessee to get between 2″ and 4″ so a Flash Flood Watch has been issued for all of West Tennessee from tonight through tomorrow night. Temperatures will get colder on Sunday with highs only in the upper 40s and lower 50s! Stay with WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News for the latest forecast and keep up with Storm Team Weather Online too for more updates!
Tom Meiners
Storm Team 7 Chief Meteorologist, CBM
Twitter – @WBBJ7TomMeiners
Facebook – facebook.com/WBBJ.tom.meiners
Email – tmeiners@wbbjtv.com
