Don't be fooled by the calendar

As I sit down to write this entry, our weather team is tracking a powerful low pressure system in the southern United States. Tornadoes have been reported all over the deep South, an unusual pattern for November. Just goes to show you- severe weather doesn't necessarily take a break in the Fall. While it is true that November and December are fairly quiet when compared to the late summer months, severe storms can occur at any time- especially during El Nino patterns. During these events, warming ocean waters help to shift jet stream positions globally. Remember, jet stream flow can often guide and influence storm movement. As a result, the southeastern United States often experiences above-normal precipitation. And remember -- precipitation can come in many forms, from snow to severe weather. If you look back at some of the major El Nino events of the past 50 years, there have been many cases in which North Carolina experienced major severe outbreaks during the winter. One notable example was the El Nino of 1994-95. Parts of Duplin and Sampson County were hit by damaging tornadoes in early January, just a few weeks after Christmas. I remember it well -- my wife's family lost the front porch due to a falling tree. It took them weeks to get everything cleared and repaired. So don't be fooled by the calendar- around here, every month is "severe weather season."