Mesoscale Discussion 1882
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0656 PM CDT Thu Oct 21 2021
Areas affected...Portions of western Pennsylvania
Concerning...Severe potential...Watch unlikely
Valid 212356Z - 220200Z
Probability of Watch Issuance...20 percent
SUMMARY...The threat for a couple of tornadoes is expected to
persist for a couple more hours before storms weaken and the severe
threat gradually diminishes. Given the expected short duration
tornado threat, a Tornado Watch issuance remains unlikely.
DISCUSSION...Multiple discrete/semi-discrete supercells continue to
exhibit instances of strong low-level rotation, from Butler County
PA to Ohio County WV. Multiple TDS signatures were noted with some
of these storms in the past few minutes via KPBZ dual-polarimetric
radar data. These storms continue to rotate within an environment
characterized by weak buoyancy (MLCAPE barely reaching 500 J/kg
MLCAPE), but with strong low-level shear. Specifically, PBZ VAD
profiler data have shown consistent elongated hodographs with 200+
0-1km SRH, with METAR observations also showing some localized
backing of the surface winds across southwest PA. As such, storm
organization and periods of low-level rotation/brief tornadoes will
likely continue for a couple more hours, before boundary-layer
stabilization results in a gradual waning of the severe threat. A
Tornado Watch issuance is not expected.
..Squitieri/Dial.. 10/21/2021