STATUS: IOP

The next IOP will commence sometime between midnight and 6 AM on Thur 24 March.  At that time, shear and CAPE are forecast to begin rising rapidly across northern AL, followed by one or two lines of convection during the day.  There is the potential for a tornadic storm.  The expected mode will be QLCS or a broken line, with supercells possible.

The IOP should terminate in the afternoon or evening when convection ends.

A special IOP planning meeting will occur at SWIRLL on the evening of Wed 23 March to design the observing plan for this IOP.

We are watching Sunday 27 March; right now, CAPE appears to be sufficient for tornadic storms, but shear is progged to be too weak to marginal.  Given the need to conserve resources and the prevalence of tornadoes in April in AL, we are likely to wait for stronger systems in April.