NOUS44 KBMX 302204 CCA

PNSBMX

ALZ011>015-017>050-010945-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

442 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012

…PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT…

…NO CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN ALABAMA FOR APRIL 2012…

MERELY ONE YEAR AFTER ESTABLISHING THE RECORD FOR THE MOST

TORNADOES IN A SINGLE MONTH IN ALABAMA…ACTUALLY BREAKING THE

PREVIOUS ANNUAL RECORD IN A SINGLE MONTH…THERE HAS NOT BEEN A

SINGLE CONFIRMED TORNADO REPORTED IN ALABAMA IN THE MONTH OF APRIL

2012. THE LAST TIME ALABAMA EXPERIENCED A TORNADO-FREE APRIL WAS

IN 2004. THIS RESPITE COMES AS AN OBVIOUS RELIEF TO TORNADO

STRICKEN CITIZENS OF ALABAMA…MANY OF WHOM ARE STILL RECOVERING

FROM THE DEVASTATING APRIL 27TH 2011 OUTBREAK.

WHY SO MANY TORNADOES LAST YEAR AND SO FEW TORNADOES THIS YEAR?

WHILE LAST YEAR`S PATTERN WAS FAVORABLE AND ACTIVE…FOR MUCH OF

SPRING 2012 WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESENCE OF A PATTERN MORE LIKE

EARLY SUMMER…WITH WARMER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS

ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST. A BLOCKING PATTERN IN THE NORTHERN

ATLANTIC HAS MOVED THE POLAR/SUBTROPICAL JETS FURTHER NORTHWARD

ALLOWING FOR AN EXPANSIVE RIDGE/HIGH PRESSURE TO REMAIN IN PLACE

OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN CONUS FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON…WITH LITTLE

CHANCE OF MOVING IT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WHILE THIS PATTERN CHANGE HAS CERTAINLY REDUCED THE THREAT FOR

SEVERE WEATHER IN ALABAMA, IT ALSO HAS BEEN CONDUCIVE FOR SHORT

TERM DROUGHT, WHICH WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE BETTER WITHOUT.

WHILE WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH A MUCH MORE FAVORABLE 2012

SPRING SEASON THUS FAR…EVEN WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A REDUCED

THREAT…IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN VIGILANT AS WE CLOSE OUT THE

SPRING PEAK TORNADO SEASON IN ALABAMA, WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE END

OF MAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INFORMATION, PLEASE

CONTACT WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK AT

(205) 621-5645 EXT 223, OR BY E-MAIL TO JOHN.DEBLOCK@NOAA.GOV.

JD/02

Category: Alabama's Weather