NWS Officially Declares Last Night's Storms a Derecho Event

The line of storms that blasted through Houston with 100+ mph winds & left 4 dead raced across SE LA/MS into Florida.  The National Weather Service indicated this is classified a "Derecho event", which is a long lasting damaging wind event that extends over 400+ miles.  Fortunately, the line weakened slightly as it moved through us, but most of the official wind stations topped 70-80+ mph.  That brought down lots of trees knocking out power for many.

The bottom two pictures are the way my back patio looked after daybreak.  Bailey was looking to do her "morning duty" and had to navigate the down tree limbs.  Here's the radar review.

Watching The Weather Channel showing Houston revealed they received way more damage than here.  So the question becomes...Will we be blasted again tonight? SPC keeps us under level 2 severe risk for tonight. The only Tornado Watch (red box) is for areas east of Mobile Bay.

Unlike last night, where rainfall was generally 1-3", tonight's threat could be more heavy rainfall (2-4"+).  Obviously the Flash Flood Watch remain in effect.

The FOX 8 rain potential has that heaviest band right over the South Shore.  The timing appears to be after midnight ending before daybreak.  What's the hold up regarding the rain?  Another upper disturbance is approaching West Texas.

With the surface boundary located near us, the upper system could fire off rounds of overnight storms. Until we get the upper energy to push to the east, the surface boundary will remain nearly stationary.

We have plenty of low level moisture available as dew points are an August-like 77!

The evening hours look quiet.  Later tonight, you need to be off the streets.

By Saturday PM we start to dry out.  Next week looks dry with summer-like heat.  Joy oh joy!  Finally,

If skies look hazy this weekend, it's a smoke plumb heading across the Gulf from the Yucatan Peninsula.  Enjoy your weekend & stay tuned!