Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Another Active Day on the Way

Good morning! I am getting my girls ready for school....they are not too hungry for once. I think it is a TRIX morning. The question is what tricks does nature have up its sleeve? No surprises this morning. The line of showers and storms that was in the forecast is rolling through. I am not expecting severe weather and most importantly no training of thunderstorms. The heaviest rain should be out of our area by 9 a.m. which is even better news. Rain amounts overnight was mainly less than a quarter-inch in most areas. We could see a quick half-inch in some areas early this mornng with our next round of rain.

The next round of storms will move through between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. We could see an additional half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain. The good news is that we should stay below the critical two inches of rain in most areas which will prevent major flooding on the Wabash and Tippecanoe River. We still have to watch for the worst flooding since February of 2008 in parts of the area and residents along the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers will have to be ready to move if necessary. Let's just keep those rain amounts on the lower side!

We are still in a slight risk for severe weather and the atmosphere should be most unstable in our area right around 9 p.m. The lifted index and CAPE values are much lower than they were on Sunday afternoon. The lower these values the lower our chances of damaging storms. But I have done this long enough to know that we will all need to monitor this carefully and I will have updates through the day. As of now our main threats tonight will be wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and small hail. But again this could still change. Just be ready and have a PLAN B. I am going to get my girls to school and will be back with you a little later. Have a great day!

Monday, March 9, 2009

New look & New place for the blog--Click below for updates

Hey blog fans. We're moving to a new blog platform.

It's not updated in WLFI.com's navigation yet (it will be tomorrow!) but click on the link below for a sneak peek at our new look and updates about the flooding.

http://blogs.wlfi.com/category/mike-prangleys-lafayette-weather-blog/

Tornado Confirmed near West Bedford & More Storms are on the Way

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has confirmed an EF-3 tornado with wind speeds near 160 mph. A school bus was thrown 75 feet and one house was totally destroyed with just its foundation left. Here in the Lafayette area we had near hurricane force winds rip through the area with lots of damage and debris reported across the area. I will post some pictures here of the damage this evening and talk more about a second round of severe weather on the way. Our next chance of storms will arrive after 3 a.m. Tuesday but I think the best chance of severe weather will once again be late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Damaging wind, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible. We are also monitoring the Wabash River and the Tippecanoe River for more flooding on the way. Be ready to move in those normally flood-prone areas. Join me tonight to find out how much rain is on the way.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

4 Feet of Water in Some Yards at Horseshoe Bend

Well the Norway and Oakdale Dam water levels are starting to steady off after a rapid rise between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. but they have a very high flow between 16,000 and 17,000 cfs. It is enough to close a couple roads in Carroll County at 2000 and 2500 W. Some folks have reported up to 4 feet of water in their yards at Horseshoe Bend but no evacuations have been ordered since most roads still remain clear of water. I spoke with White and Carroll County Emergency Management and they have made it clear that all residents in those normally flood-prone areas on the Tippecanoe River need to be ready to move if evacuations are ordered. If the flow reaches up to 22,000 cfs then the flooding would be bad enough for this to happen. Levels are not expected to reach that high but residents need to monitor the situation closely over the next few hours. The good news is NO MORE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT....but Tuesday could be a different story.

High wind gusts are also causing problems with power lines being knocked down. The ground is soft and saturated due to 2 to 3 inches of rain and those wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph are easily causing big problems. The wind should start easing up by 9 p.m. across the area. I will check back if anything should change tonight. Thanks for all your helpful e-mails and pictures. I will post all those incredible pictures as soon as I can. What a day it has been and I appreciate all your help as always. It was a team effort and we proudly were the only station that warned you of those hurricane force winds that swept through the area. I am glad everybody is safe and sound from where you live! :)


Car Rooftops Ripped off & Trees Down Across the Area

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CASS AND MIAMI COUNTIES UNTIL 5 P.M. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CARROLL AND CLINTON COUNTIES UNTIL 4:30 P.M. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH. WE STILL CANNOT RULE OUT A BRIEF, ISOLATED TORNADO AS WE ARE STILL UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. BUT AT THIS TIME LIVE DOPPLER 18 IS STILL SHOWING THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUE FOR FULTON COUNTY UNTIL 4:45 P.M. BUT THE WORST OF THAT STORM IS NOW QUICKLY LIFTING INTO MARSHALL COUNTY.

I am still gathering information and will let you know more about those storm reports tonight at 6 p.m. including the car rooftop that hopped a six foot fence off of 450 South.....I have NEVER had a storm report like this one!

There was also a large tree blocking portions of Divison Road...

Developing....

Line Continues to Race Eastward with Wind & Heavy Rain

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CASS AND MIAMI COUNTIES UNTIL 5 P.M. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CARROLL AND CLINTON COUNTIES UNTIL 4:30 P.M. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH. WE STILL CANNOT RULE OUT A BRIEF, ISOLATED TORNADO AS WE ARE STILL UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. BUT AT THIS TIME LIVE DOPPLER 18 IS STILL SHOWING THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUE FOR FULTON COUNTY UNTIL 4:45 P.M. BUT THE WORST OF THAT STORM IS NOW QUICKLY LIFTING INTO MARSHALL COUNTY.

Tornado Warning Due to Rotation in Extreme Northern Netwon and Jasper Counties

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME NORTHERN NEWTON AND JASPER COUNTIES DUE TO A ROTATING THUNDERSTORM THAT COULD REACH THE GROUND AS A TORNADO. THIS ROTATING STORM WILL BE NEAR LAKE VILLAGE BY 3:20 P.M.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR BENTON, NEWTON, AND JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 3:45 P.M. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. THE WORST PART OF THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR FOWLER BY 3:05 P.M. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR OUR ENTIRE VIEWING AREA UNTIL 5 P.M.

First Warnings Issued for Benton, Southern Newton, and Southern Jasper Counties

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR BENTON, NEWTON, AND JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 3:45 P.M. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. THE WORST PART OF THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR FOWLER BY 3:05 P.M. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR OUR ENTIRE VIEWING AREA UNTIL 5 P.M.

REMEMBER ISOLATED TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT

THIS LINE IS ENERGIZING ONCE AGAIN.

Main Squall Line Weakens But Still Being Monitored

The question was how much instability would be left after our big morning round of rain. Well it does look like our main line is weakening as it moves into our area but we are still monitoring a strong storm that could move into Benton County by 3 p.m. But right now it does look like this line is running into a more stable atmosphere which will limit the amount of severe weather we will receive. I still cannot give the all clear and officially we are in a tornado watch until 5 p.m. I still expect at least a couple of severe thunderstorm warnings with the main threats being damaging wind and large hail. Our weather team will have special team coverage on television with storm updates after 3 p.m.

LATEST PUBLIC CRAWL ON TELEVISION:

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR OUR ENTIRE VIEWING AREA UNTIL 5 P.M. THE MAIN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS NOW QUICKLY APPROACHING INDIANA WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR VERMILION AND IROQUOIS COUNTIES IN EFFECT. THE MAIN THREATS FOR OUR AREA WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL AS THEY CROSS INTO OUR VIEWING AREA CLOSE TO 3:00 P.M. THESE STORMS WILL RACE EAST AT CLOSE TO 50 MPH.

LATEST FROM TEMA AND WHITE COUNTY EMA

I just got off the phone with TEMA and they are getting our storm spotters in place and ready to go. The latest news from White County is that the water levels are rising near the Oakdale Dam. Heavy rains combined with some water released by NIPSCO has the flow up to 10,126 feet. Flooding becomes a concern when the flow reaches 13,000 feet. Although flooding is not imminent at this time we will have to continue to monitor the situation with more rain on the way on top of the 1 to 2 inches of rain reported across portions of White and Carroll Counties. Here is our latest crawl....I will cut in on television as needed.

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR OUR VIEWING AREA UNTIL 5 P.M. THE MAIN LINE OF DAMAGING STORMS WILL ARRIVE BETWEEN 2:30 P.M. AND 3:00 P.M. IN OUR VIEWING AREA AND RACE EAST AT CLOSE TO 50 MPH. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. ALSO LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF, ISOLATED TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT. OFFICIALLY WHITE, CASS, PULASKI, FULTON, AND MIAMI COUNTIES ARE NOT IN A TORNADO WATCH BUT THESE AREAS ALSO IN A RISK AREA FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. ALL OF US NEED TO HAVE A PLAN B AND STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST. A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES SOUTH OF THE OAKDALE DAM IN CARROLL COUNTY. WATER FLOW IS NOW AT 10,126 FEET. LOWLAND FLOODING BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN THIS REACHES 13,000 CFS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT WITH MORE RAIN ON THE WAY THIS AFTERNOON. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO IMMINENT THREAT.


Tornado Watch until 5 p.m. for Our Viewing Area

WEATHER TEAM 18 UPDATE: A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR OUR VIEWING AREA UNTIL 5 P.M. THE FIRST LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA AT THIS TIME WILL BRING HEAVY DOWNPOURS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 35 MPH. BETWEEN 2 AND 4 P.M. A MORE INTENSE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE OUR WAY WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. BRIEF, ISOLATED TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL THIS AFTERNOON KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MAKE SURE TO HAVE A SAFE LOCATION YOU CAN GO TO IN A HURRY.

Technically, areas of White, Cass, Miami, Fulton, and Pulaski Counties are not in a tornado watch but severe thunderstorms will also be possible in these counties so all of us need to have a plan B.

A Rude Wake-Up Call A Sign of Things to Come

I am heading to church with my family and then will be back at WLFI by this afternoon. This still looks like our prime time for strong storms. Yesterday we had the high risk window between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and that still looks good....although just to be safe we need to extend that severe window to between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Yes, we will have a few rumbles of thunder this morning but the main dynamics with our approaching storm will not arrive until this afternoon.

Here is what is happening..the main cold front that will drop temperatures from the upper 60s into the lower to middle 30s by tomorrow morning will pack a punch. My main threat for us will be wind and some large hail. Our upper-level winds that fuel storms will go from near 35 mph this morning to 60 mph by early afternoon. A few storms could easily drag these high winds to the ground. Up at 10,000 feet we will see the winds go from 45 to 85 mph which is quite impressive. Our CAPE values go over 500 with a lifted index of -2 which is unstable enough for a few weather warnings. There will also be wind shear to deal with but the tornado threat for our area will remain at less than 10%. Thunderstorms will be quick-moving and head east-southeast at 40 to 60 mph this afternoon. Look to the west and northwest this afternoon. That is where the bad storms are heading from.

Keep in mind outside of thunderstorms we will see wind gusts near 50 mph beginning at 3 p.m. and those high winds will continue until at least 11 p.m. There is a flood advisory for White, Cass, Pulaski, Fulton, and Miami Counties for lowland areas. This region has had one to two inches overnight with another inch of rain possible. Be careful in these areas. Flooding is another concern of ours with a flood crest on the Wabash likely on Wednesday.

Off to church and yes I will pray the worst of these storms miss our area and then we will have to get ready for more possible storms and flooding Monday night and Tuesday. If you need me this afternoon you can call the office at 463-1800 ext. 255 or e-mail me at storm@wlfi.com. All rainfall amounts, storm reports, and pictures will be greatly appreciated.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Thunderstorms Roll In....Main Threat Heavy Rain & Lightning

We have a lot of flashing in the sky over Tippecanoe County at 7:00 p.m. so remember your lightning safety rules. The good news is our severe weather threat will remain low through the remainder of tonight. While we could see a couple thunderstorms tonight the atmosphere is primed for heavy rain rather than damaging storms. So at this time our main threats will be lightning and heavy rain. We have a small chance of pea-size hail and maybe a wind gust near 30 mph. The strongest storm corridor will be from West Lafayette through Delphi and Logansport. By 8 p.m. we will watch mainly a rain event with some downpours at times.

Severe thunderstorms will become more likely on Sunday afternoon in the Lafayette area between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. as a cold front moves through the area and a strong jet stream enters the state. This could add some spin and extra lift to developing thunderstorms. Our main threats will be damaging wind gusts near 60 mph and large hail here at home. Areas from Indianapolis southward could even see an isolated tornado or two. A wind advisory will be possible with wind gusts outside of thunderstorms of 40 to 50 mph between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Sunday in Lafayette.

I do not expect widespread severe weather in the Lafayette area tomorrow since we will wake up with heavy rainfall keeping our atmosphere more stable. But areas south of Interstate 70 and areas farther south will have a much more unstable atmophere to work with. On Tuesday I think Lafayette will have a much better chance of more widespread severe weather but we just need to take it a day at a time and in this pattern an hour at a time. We will certainly have to monitor things closely on Sunday. Be safe and I will check in as needed.

The latest rainfall forecast for most of our area will be near two inches of rain. Another soggy and stormy day on Tuesday of next week could bring another inch of rain so a Flood Warning has been issued on the Wabash River Tuesday morning through late Wednesday night with a flood crest of close to 12 feet or one foot above normal. This could still change based on how much rain we actually receive. So keep checking back for updates.

A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for Newton, Jasper, and Benton Counties through Sunday evening which means to be ready to move to higher ground especially along rivers, creeks, and lowland areas. Do not cross roads covered by water and avoid driving at night when washed out roads are hard to see.

A Flood Watch continues until Sunday evening for Miami, Cass, White, Pulaski, and Fultong Counties. Lowland flooding will be the main threat.

Warmest Weather in 4 Months Holds on for Another Day

Do not cancel plans most of the rain will hold off until tonight and Sunday with the main weather threat being lowland flooding at this time. Some areas could see upwards of three inches of rain. An isolated strong storm is also possible on Sunday.witht the main threat being damaging wind gusts. Today's highs will be back near 70. A south wind will be at 10 to 20 mph..A weather blog update is on the way which will include which areas have flood watches and what the rain means for area rivers.

BRB....

Friday, March 6, 2009

We Spring Forward & Spring Weather Continues!

Good Morning! I got a little rest last night and am excited to catch up on all of our Indiana weather. Make sure you turn your clocks forward before you go to sleep on Saturday night and change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Once we turn our clocks forward our sunset will be at 7:47 p.m. You add in the the twilight and we will have daylight after 8 p.m. we can all enjoy. Now the question is will we be able to go outside and enjoy the extra daylight. Yes! I still think we could see our first 70s of the year as nature has already turned its clock forward by 3 months! We do know here in Indiana if we warm up too quickly that it can bring strong storms and we will have to watch for a round of strong storms this weekend. I will be back later today to talk more about that and even have another sign of Spring for you which includes a much higher pollen count. Spring has sprung in more than one way! I am going to go get my 8 mile run in and get back to work. We have tons of great things to talk about tonight on the air and here on the blog. One last side note: We are about 10 degrees warmer than many parts of the Deep South this morning! What a pattern!

Snow Hound Update: We will see snow again this year but the real chance of sticking snow will not hit until we get closer to St. Patrick's Day.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Great to Be Back with Great Weather To Talk About!

Hello....landed in Indianapolis just before 2 p.m. and I am back in the office here at 4 p.m. It is great to be back and I want to thank you for your patience. I am working on a few things here: how much rain is on the way (I think we miss most of it tonight)....will we hit 70 degrees and stay mainly dry Saturday (looking more likely)....and looking at the long-range maps...maybe no cold weather until NEXT weekend!! Woo hoo!! See you soon! Man, I missed you all!! :)