RSS Mesoscale Discussions from Storm Prediction Center
SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0705 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
Valid 291300Z - 301200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF
TEXAS INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND THE CENTRAL GULF
COAST...
...SUMMARY...
Strong to severe thunderstorms should impact a corridor from parts
of Texas to the Gulf Coast states today. Scattered damaging winds
and large hail are the main threats, with isolated very large hail
possible across portions of Texas.
...Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley/Southeast...
A broad zone of enhanced westerly mid-level flow will persist today
over much of the southern Plains into the lower MS Valley and
Southeast. Multiple weak embedded perturbations aloft moving from
northern Mexico across the southern Plains should encourage isolated
to scattered thunderstorms to develop through the day along/near a
surface front draped from west-central TX to southern AR. A rather
moist low-level airmass remains in place along/south of this
boundary, with surface dewpoints generally in the low to mid 70s.
Steep mid-level lapse rates atop this moisture are supporting up to
2000-4000 J/kg of MUCAPE across TX, with somewhat lesser values into
the lower MS Valley.
Current expectations are for a gradual increase in convective
coverage and intensity this morning through the afternoon as the
weak mid-level shortwave impulses develop eastward across the warm
sector, with multiple zones of initiation possible along/near the
front. Regardless of where thunderstorms form, the moderate to very
strong instability and elongated/nearly straight hodographs at
mid/upper levels should support a threat for large hail with any
persistent supercells. This hail threat should be greater across TX
(with isolated 2+ inch diameter hailstones possible here), but
isolated severe hail may occur as far east as the central/southern
AL vicinity. A tendency for thunderstorms to cluster and pose a
greater damaging wind threat may focus across parts of the lower MS
Valley, generally along/southwest of ongoing convection occurring
this morning in east-central MS to northern/central AL. Given
increased confidence in convection initiating and being sustained, a
Slight Risk for the hail/wind threat has been introduced from parts
of TX to southern AL with this update.
...Mid-Atlantic/North Carolina...
Within large-scale upper troughing over the Great Lakes/Midwest, an
embedded mid-level shortwave trough will move northeastward across
the Mid-Atlantic this afternoon/evening in tandem with an
eastward-moving surface cold front. Only modest boundary layer
moisture is present across the region, with surface dewpoints
generally in the 50s. Filtered diurnal heating will result in
generally 250-750 J/kg MLCAPE (locally greater possible in NC).
Despite this weak instability, strong deep-layer shear should aid in
transient organization of the more robust cores that can form. An
isolated threat for hail and damaging winds remains apparent. 0-1 km
SRH around 100-150 m2/s2 in proximity to a weak surface low could
also support a brief tornado.
..Gleason/Jewell.. 04/29/2026
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