Today is forecast to be nearly the same temperature as yesterday.
Nowcast as of 1:32 PM CST on December 23, 2009
Now
Through 4 PM...scattered showers were moving northeast across the area. Intermittent rain can be expected for the next few hours. Rainfall rates will be near a tenth of an inch per hour...with isolated higher amounts. Breezy southerly winds from 10 to 20 mph and gusts to 25 mph may blow loose objects.
Forecast for Franklin
Updated: 10:43 am CST on December 23, 2009
Lake Wind Advisory in effect until 6 am CST Thursday...
Rest of Today
Showers likely through midday...then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to near 30 mph. The chance of rain 60 percent.
Showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening...then showers and a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Some thunderstorms may be severe with damaging winds and heavy rainfall after midnight. Cloudy...breezy. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight. The chance of rain 90 percent.
Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Cloudy...breezy. Highs in the upper 50s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning. The chance of rain near 100 percent.
... Lake Wind Advisory now in effect until 2 PM CST Thursday...
The lake Wind Advisory is now in effect until 2 PM CST Thursday.
Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph will become more gusty through tonight and increase from the south to between 20 and 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph possible early Thursday morning. These winds will abruptly shift to the west as a squall line passes about midday Thursday. The west winds should decrease late Thursday afternoon to around 10 to 20 mph.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A lake Wind Advisory indicates that winds will cause rough chop on area lakes. Small boats will be especially prone to capsizing.
Wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour occasionally bring down large limbs and rotted trees causing serious injury and property damage. Exercise caution when outdoors during these strong winds.
Special Weather Statement
Statement as of 2:50 PM CST on December 23, 2009
... Intense storm system to affect the region Christmas eve...
Severe thunderstorms... windy conditions... and localized flooding will all be possible Christmas eve as a strong weather system affects the area.
An unusually intense low pressure center will be passing from northern Louisiana across Arkansas into southern Missouri Thursday. The low will push a strong cold front across the region from west to east Thursday afternoon. Ahead of the front... a line of strong to severe thunderstorms will develop and sweep across the area from late morning through the afternoon hours. Additionally... a few strong to severe storms could develop ahead of the line... with the risk of this activity starting west of the Mississippi River late tonight.
The greatest risk for severe weather looks to be south of Interstate 20. The threat for numerous damaging wind gusts... with the potential for wind gusts in excess of 70 mph... will exist in this area along with the possibility of tornadoes. Farther to the north... the severe weather risk will be somewhat less... but damaging winds of 60 mph will be possible along with a slight risk of a tornado.
Even outside of the thunderstorms... the low pressure system will produce strong south to southeast winds late tonight and Thursday. Sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph... with gusts up to 40 mph... will be common... with the strongest winds in the Mississippi Delta Region. These types of winds can cause large limbs and a few trees to be downed.
Finally... very heavy downpours will occur with the strongest storms late tonight and Thursday. This will cause localized flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas. Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches will be common. Flash flood watches have been issued for northern and western portions of the arklamiss... and may need to be expanded Thursday.
With many people traveling to Holiday festivities Thursday... it is extra important to keep aware of the weather situation. People should be alert for rapidly changing weather conditions... and listen for possible watches and warnings.