NWS: Severe storms, possible tornadoes in Columbus area Wednesday
The blustery storm that pushed through the Columbus area Monday afternoon could be the appetizer for a major round of severe weather — including a possible outbreak of tornadoes — now being forecast Wednesday morning and afternoon for much of the Southeast.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Ga., released a hazardous weather outlook statement Tuesday afternoon calling for scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms Wednesday during the day and into the night.
“Damaging winds, large hail, several tornadoes and frequent lightning will be the main hazards,” the weather service said. “Heavy rain can also be expected with minor flooding possible. Strong and gusty winds can be expected on Thursday.”
With a high near 80 on Wednesday and a much cooler mass of area pushing in behind the gulf moisture-laden fronts, rainfall amounts could be between 1 to 2 inches, the National Weather Service said. It could also help trigger the severe storms with the hail, straight-line winds and possible tornadoes.
The forecast for Wednesday night is for showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., with possible severe weather. The rain should then begin to subside as the gusty winds enter the Chattahoochee Valley.
The high on Thursday is now projected to be near 64 with sunny skies, with lows dipping to around the mid-40s that night. By Sunday, the highs will be back up to near 80 degrees once again.
The Weather Channel’s Weather.com currently shows thunderstorms entering the city around 5 a.m. Wednesday, with the potential threat growing through the lunch hour. It forecasts a surge to “strong storms” between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., with precipitation tailing off until a final round of thunderstorms moves through the area between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson on Tuesday proactively ordered the closing of the Columbus Consolidated Government on Wednesday, “except for all emergency and essential personnel,” and encouraged local businesses to take into consideration whether or not they should remain open.
She also urged residents to take precautions in advance of the severe weather and avoid being outside and driving as any storms move through the city, “if it is not absolutely necessary.” That advice included finding “the safest place to take shelter in their home” and for them “to stay away from glass and windows. Please check your property for outdoor furniture and loose items that may become projectiles in high winds.”
The city also released these severe weather safety tips:
▪ Stay off roadways during and immediately after storms to allow for cleanup and emergency vehicles to do their jobs
▪ Have your cellphone batteries fully charged
▪ Fill up your vehicle with a full tank of gas
▪ Make sure you plenty of water and non-perishable food
▪ Develop a communication plan with family members
▪ Treat all fallen lines as if they are live wires that could kill you. If in a vehicle, stay in it until you’re certain emergency crews have disabled the electricity and it is safe
This story was originally published April 4, 2017 at 5:27 PM with the headline "NWS: Severe storms, possible tornadoes in Columbus area Wednesday."