Stephen Vick

*Severe weather to return April 20–May 6* I'm keeping tabs on a pattern that looks increasingly favorable for severe weather and tornadoes across parts of the Plains, Ozarks and Mid-South. This looks to be a bit farther west than the recent barrages of tornado storms. The overarching pattern favors a pocket of cold air, low pressure and spin to become established in the Rockies. The jet stream will likely dip, allowing that cold air to spill south over the western U.S. In the East, the jet stream will rise, with high pressure building into the Southeast. That will pump moisture northward across the central U.S. The air masses will battle it out over the central states – and, with moisture in place, that clash will brew storms. The jet stream will also be blowing overhead, adding the needed wind energy for severe thunderstorms and perhaps tornadoes. April and May are "that time of year" anyway. We've been quiet for the past few days, and likely will remain quiet until about April 17 or so. Thereafter, the pattern looks to flip to busier severe weather, with possible above-average tornado activity to round out the month and usher in May. @MyRadarWX