Wednesday, November 30, 2016

New York City metro-area forecast for November 30-December 14,2016 from weather.com

Here's the 15-day weather forecast for the New York City metro-area for the period of the last day of November and the first 2 weeks of December (November 30-December 14),2016 from The Weather Channel's web-site;weather.com










Tonight,November 30-December 1: Remaining cloudy,rainy,and unseasonably mild for the end of November,with periods of rain and a low temperature dropping to the upper 40's to lower 50's.As of 1:35AM,EST,December 1,it's 51 degrees and cloudy,with 95% humidity,in White Plains,NY and it's 53 degrees and foggy,with 94% humidity,in New York City.

Tomorrow,December 1: December 2016 begins turning mostly sunny,but remaining unseasonably mild for very late autumn,with a high temperature in the middle and upper 50's.

Tomorrow night,December 1-2: Becoming mainly clear and much colder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Friday,December 2: Turning partly cloudy and cooler than recent days,with a high temperature in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably cold for very late autumn and the beginning of December,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,once again,overnight.

Saturday,December 3: Becoming mostly sunny and colder than recent days,with a high temperature of 45-50 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy and even colder,with a low temperature dropping to 30-35 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,December 4: Remaining mostly sunny and seasonably chilly for very early December and the end of autumn,with a high temperature in the middle 40's.Turning cloudy,but remaining dry,with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.

Monday,December 5: Becoming partly cloudy and a bit milder,with a high temperature of 45-50 degrees.Becoming mostly clear and seasonably cold for the end of autumn,with a low temperature dropping to 30-35 degrees,overnight.

Tuesday,December 6: Becoming mostly cloudy followed by increasing cloudiness and a high temperature in the lower and middle 40's.Turning cloudy,rainy,and milder than recent nights,with rain at times and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,December 7: Remaining cloudy and rainy,but turning warmer than recent days,with morning rain showers and a high temperature of around 50 degrees.Remaining cloudy and rainy with occasional rain and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,once again,overnight.

Thursday,December 8: Remaining cloudy,rainy,and unseasonably mild for early December and the end of autumn,with considerable cloudiness and occasional rain showers and a high temperature in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Remaining cloudy,rainy,and unseasonably mild with occasional rain and a low temperature dropping,for the third straight night,down to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Friday,December 9: Remaining cloudy and rainy,but turning windy and colder than recent days,with morning rain showers followed by clearing and a high temperature of just 40-45 degrees.Becoming mostly clear and colder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to around 30 degrees, overnight.

Saturday,December 10: Becoming partly cloudy and cold with a high temperature only in the upper 30's to lower 40's.Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably cold for the end of autumn,with a low temperature dropping to around 30 degrees,once again,overnight.

Sunday,December 11: Becoming mostly sunny,but remaining seasonably chilly to cold with a high temperature of 40-45 degrees.Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably cold,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,overnight.

Monday,December 12: Remaining seasonably chilly to cold with intervals of clouds and sunshine and a high temperature in the lower and middle 40's.Turning cloudy,rainy and wintry late,but remaining seasonably cold for early-to-mid December,with an evening wintry mix of rain and snow followed by some late-night snow showers and a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,once again,overnight.

Tuesday,December 13: Becoming partly cloudy in the morning followed by increasing cloudiness and a chance for a few afternoon rain showers and a high temperature of 40-45 degrees.Remaining partly cloudy through the evening followed by increasing cloudiness and a chance for a late-night wintry mix of rain and snow possible and a low temperature dropping to 30-35 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,December 14: Remaining cloudy,rainy,raw and chilly,with a morning wintry mix of rain and snow followed by some afternoon rain showers possible and a high temperature of 40-45 degrees.Remaining cloudy,cold and wintry,with periods of a wintry mix of rain and snow and a low temperature dropping to 30-35 degrees,once again,overnight.

14,000 forced to flee Gatlinburg, Tennessee, as wildfire rages

By Brian Lada , AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer
November 30,2016, 4:15:47PM,EST
 
 
The entire town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, was ordered to evacuate as a wildfire spread over the region early this week.
The wildfire was burning in the mountains near the town on Monday before strong winds caused the fire to rapidly advance toward the town.
The evacuation order was issued early on Monday night by the City of Gatlinburg, home to nearly 4,000 people. In total, 14,000 residents and tourists evacuated the area.
Evacuations were also issued for areas nearby, including Pigeon Forge and in areas along the Spur and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
On Wednesday morning, Tennessee officials confirmed that there have been at least seven fatalities and dozens of injuries due to the wildfire.
Gatlinburg Fire
Tennessee Highway Patrol
According to the Associated Press, more than 150 structures have been damaged in the city. A 16-story hotel was among the structures damaged.
The wildfire forced Tennessee Ripley's Aquarium staff to evacuate, leaving over 10,000 animals behind. The aquarium announced all the animals were safe on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire prompted officials to close and evacuate the Dollywood DreamMore Resort. As of early Tuesday morning, no structures in Dollywood have caught on fire.
The Great Smoky National Park remains closed due to extensive fire activity, downed trees and power outages.
Scorched vehicle from Gatlinburg Fire
A scorched vehicle sits next to a burned out building in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. The fatal fires swept over the tourist town the night before, causing widespread damage. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
As thousands fled to safety, some drove down roads with the fire raging all around them.
On Monday night, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency asked people to stay off cellular devices unless for emergency purposes as to unclog phone lines.
Gatlinburg Fire
Troopers walked into areas of Gatlinburg, Tn that were surrounded by fire to remove those who were trapped by flames. (Tennessee Highway Patrol)
RELATED:
AccuWeather severe weather center
The difference between tornado watches and warnings
National Weather Service current weather warnings
Rain and thunderstorms moved into the region on Tuesday night bringing much-needed rain to the area.
This rain helped to suppress some of the fire activity; however, one thunderstorm on Tuesday night did bring the threat of a tornado.
A light rain fell across the area earlier in the night but was not enough to put out the flames. Additional rounds of rain will occur into Wednesday, which should help emergency crews to combat the fire.
"The rain will be very much welcomed and should help dampen any fires currently burning," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said.
Drier conditions are expected to return for the second half of the week with the chance of rain returning over the weekend.
 

Straight from the experts: Should you warm up your car in cold weather?

By Katy Galimberti , AccuWeather staff writer
November 30,2016, 2:41:01PM,EST
 
 
The coldest night of the autumn season so far gripped England and Wales on Tuesday night, reminding many of the brutal conditions still set to arrive.
Chilly nights will continue into next week, leaving many shivering as they head to their cars in the early morning hours.

Some drivers jump in and sit patiently, waiting for the car to warm up. Others immediately hit the accelerator and head on their way. However, what do experts recommend?
Most vehicles built before 1995 used a carburetor, a device that combined air and fuel. In the '80s and '90s, manufacturers changed over to a fuel injection method, eliminating the need for a carburetor.
With a carburetor, it was essential to let the car lie idle for minutes before driving it in order to make sure the engine would run properly. But with modern cars, it's not the engine itself that needs to be warmed up when it's cold outside.
Experts are torn on this issue. Some say the car can be driven immediately, just at a neighbourhood speed. Others argue that cars need to idle for a couple of minutes to get the oil properly flowing.

(Top Image/Thinkstock Photo/fordeno/iStock)(Bottom Image/Thinkstock Photo/JaysonPhotography/iStock)
"The oil is the lifeblood of the engine," Joseph Henmueller, president and COO of Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association, said.
Henmueller suggested that cars should idle one to two minutes before driving in cold weather. When temperatures drop to freezing, or when it's cold enough that windscreen will frost over, the oil needs to warm up before it can move smoothly throughout the car.
"Fluids get thicker when it is cold, so to lubricate properly they need 60 to 120 seconds of the engine running," he said.
Without properly letting the engine run, Henmueller said, you may be cutting your engine's life short.
Experts at Penzoil have a different theory.
RELATED:
5 simple tricks to cheat winter
Blizzard survival guide: These tips could help save your life
AccuWeather winter weather center
Technical Adviser Shanna Simmons said it is a myth that engines need to sit idle on a cold winter day.
"While it does take longer for engine oil to pump in extreme cold temperatures, we are talking milliseconds, not minutes," she said. "Your engine will warm up the oil much faster when driving at full speed — not to mention idling wastes gas."
The United Kingdom Environmental Agency helps with monitoring emissions and pollution. Although emissions from fumes don't have set limits, they still need to be controlled.
United Kingdoms Fuel Economy says warming up the engine can cause unnecessary wear and waste fuel. Instead of warming up your car, they suggest to park in a warmer place like a garage or area in sunlight and invest in some decent de-icer.
Most manufacturers say it is best to minimize letting your car engine sit idle. It will warm up faster being driven, which will allow the heat to turn on sooner, decrease your fuel costs and reduce emissions.
 

Tropical Cyclone Nada to threaten southern India with flooding rain into this weekend


By Eric Leister , AccuWeather meteorologist
November 30,2016, 12:10:58PM,EST
 
 
Tropical Cyclone Nada has developed to the east of Sri Lanka and will impact India into this weekend.
This tropical cyclone is expected to track west-northwestward toward India over the next 24 hours.
A turn more toward the west on Thursday will take the cyclone into Tamil Nadu somewhere between Nagapattinam and Chennai.
Feature graphic hd23
Heavy rain and strong winds will remain offshore until Thursday and Thursday night as the cyclone approaches the coast.
While Nada is not expected to strengthen rapidly, damaging winds will still be possible along the track of the storm.
Areas that could endure damaging wind gusts include Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram and Nagapattinam.
Damaging winds will generally be confined to an area close to the track of the cyclone; however, heavy rain and flooding will be possible across a large portion of southern India through the weekend.
Rainfall totals of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) are possible from Nagapattinam to Chennai which could result in significant flooding and travel delays. Downpours will expand up the coast to Nellore and Ongole where localized flooding is possible.
Heavy rainfall will also heighten the risk of flooding farther inland including locations such as Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Coimbatore and Madurai.
Bengaluru could get some brief downpours; however, the heaviest rainfall is expected to remain to the south of the city.
RELATED:
India Weather Center
Detailed forecast for Chennai, India
Interactive India weather satellite

Nada will weaken dramatically as it crosses India. However, downpours are likely to reach the western coastline late Friday and continue into Saturday. Localized flooding is possible in Kerala and Karnataka.
Heavy rainfall is expected to remain south of Goa though a shower or thunderstorm is possible on Saturday or Sunday.
Most of Sri Lanka will dodge the worst impacts of this cyclone; however, far northern parts of the island will receive heavy rainfall late Wednesday night into Thursday. Localized flooding and mudslides are possible. Nothing more than a brief shower or thunderstorm is expected in Colombo.
Largely dry weather will return to southern India early next week as Nada remains weak and tracks away to the west.
However, a second tropical threat could develop during the first half of next week.
This second cyclone could take a track that could put areas on alert from eastern India through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

December to kick off dry before storms roll in for holiday travel

By Eric Leister , AccuWeather meteorologist
November 30,2016, 11:36:15AM,EST
 
 
A large area of high pressure will dominate the weather pattern across much of northern Europe during the first 10 days of December, yielding generally dry conditions.
Arctic air will be in place to start the month. This will lead to below-normal temperatures across all of Germany during the first week of the month.
The coldest air will be locked over eastern Germany where in many locations temperatures will struggle to climb above 0 C (32 F) for several days.
Germany December 2016 Outlook

The chill will relax during the middle of the month as the area of high pressure shifts eastward, allowing milder air to build slowly northward from the Mediterranean.
The milder air will hold through the middle of the month.
Rainfall will increase during the middle of the month, but at this time no widespread heavy rain or flooding is expected.
These storms will also renew the threat for strong winds. The strongest storms of the month are expected during the final seven to 10 days of the month.
During late December, a series of storms will pass near Germany as high pressure departs opening the door for Atlantic storms to converge on northern Europe.
RELATED:
Germany Weather Center
MinuteCast® for your location
Interactive Germany weather radar

“Storms approaching from the north and west will result in the stormiest conditions during late December,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
Each of these storms will bring the potential for damaging winds and travel delays as holiday travel reaches a peak.
An overall increase in frequency of storms will also result in a higher chance for snow; however, the greatest chance for any lasting snowfall will be over the higher terrain.
Brief shots of colder air will follow these storms, but temperatures are expected to be within a few degrees of normal throughout Germany during the holidays.
Normal high temperatures across Germany during late December range from 2-3 C (35-38 F).
 

Heavy, gusty thunderstorms to target eastern US through Wednesday evening


By Alex Sosnowski , AccuWeather senior meteorologist
November 30,2016, 9:34:23PM,EST
 
 
 
Thunderstorms with strong winds are threatening lives and property in parts of the eastern United States through Wednesday evening.
The greatest risk of thunderstorms with gusts between 40 and 60 mph will extend from the Florida Panhandle, northward to central North Carolina into the early evening hours.
The risk of isolated storms with damaging winds will continue to expand eastward and northward during Wednesday evening. Areas from Delaware and eastern Maryland to coastal areas of the Carolinas will be at risk during this time.
Several of the strongest storms have the potential to produce brief tornadoes.
One thunderstorm tornado touched down near Atlanta leading to a ground stop at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
On Wednesday evening, thunderstorms around Charlotte caused a ground stop for all traffic at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Waterspouts were been sighted along the shoreline of the Florida Panhandle during the midday hours on Wednesday. A couple of the waterspouts moved ashore as tornadoes.
People should seek shelter as the storms approach.
Final gusty storm graphic 11-30
Most of the storms will not be as intense as those which struck areas from Louisiana to Alabama and Tennessee on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity.
Storms from late Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night were fatal in some communities. The storms generated more than 100 severe weather incidents, including more than two dozen reports of tornadoes.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Severe Weather Center: Watches and warnings
Southeastern US interactive radar
5 killed in Alabama after tornadoes plague the Deep South

"Winds can be strong enough to knock down trees and large tree limbs and cause property damage into Wednesday evening," Margusity said.
The most far-reaching impact of the storms will be downpours that can lead to urban and poor drainage area flooding.
Some of the downpours as far to the northeast as New York state and New England can be accompanied by brief gusty winds.
The sudden downpours and wind can blind some motorists and cause low enough visibility to lead to brief airline delays at the major hubs from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
People heading to Rockefeller Center in New York City for the tree lighting during Wednesday evening should be prepared for stormy but mild conditions.
During Wednesday night and Thursday, from west to east, a push of drier and chillier air will arrive and sweep clouds and storms away from much of the Appalachians and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Holiday hacks to keep your real Christmas tree fresh all season

By Bianca Barr Tunno , AccuWeather staff writer
 
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, families who decorate for Christmas might be thinking about selecting that perfect live tree for their homes.
If you are choosing the real thing this year, here are some tips to keep your Christmas tree as healthy as possible this holiday season.

1. Remember the tree is a live organism
Two simple things to keep in mind when you are preparing your tree for the indoors: Ask for a fresh cut on the trunk and make sure the tree gets water right away.
Christmas Tree Farm
Make sure you know how much space you have to display your real Christmas tree. Looks may be deceiving at the retail lot or tree farm and you could end up with a tree that is way too big for your room. (iStock/Thinkstock/arinahabich)

Hugh Whaley, spokesperson with the National Christmas Tree Association, told AccuWeather most species can be without water for six to eight hours before dried sap forms a seal over the trunk, making it much harder, if not impossible, for water to absorb. He recommends a quick turnaround to keep the tree viable.
“Even if you are not going to decorate it right away… just come home, put it in a bucket of water and lean it up upright either outside or in the garage,” Whaley said. “Keep it moist during the entire season.”
2. Plain, fresh water is key
If you want your tree to be its best and brightest for Christmas Day and beyond, experts say the simplest solution is to feed your tree with water in a tree stand.
Whaley said you should check water levels twice a day – when you get up and when you go to bed – to get an idea how fast the tree is absorbing water.
While some people swear by a sugar solution or purchasing a tree preservative, tree growers said additives don’t necessarily make an noticeable difference.
Also, the temperature of the water doesn’t matter and drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
RELATED:
VIDEO: What is "Blizzard Alley?"
Mild conditions in store for National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in DC
5 tips to reduce your winter heating bills


3. Needles don't have to be all over your house
Different species of trees will react differently to coming indoors, according to Doug Leies, a tree grower with a family farm in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
He said firs are generally better than spruces in this regard. Ask the retailer to shake the dead needles from the tree before taking it home.
You can also buy a tree removal bag that acts as a tree skirt. When you’re ready to take the tree down, raise the bag from bottom to top and capture the needles inside.
4. Picking the best tree depends on a variety of factors
Of course, the best type of tree is subject to interpretation but it can also be based on your geographic area. Our experts personally enjoy Fraser and White (Concolor) Firs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a Blue Spruce or a Scotch Pine.
A certain variety may be more popular in your area because of the growing conditions nearby.
You’re most likely to get the largest selection immediately after Thanksgiving.
However, Leies said the best time to make your pick is when you have time to enjoy the full experience.
“This is meant to be fun, after all," he said.
5. Remove your tree in an environmentally-friendly way
The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service says you can facilitate the process of removing your Christmas tree by doing the following:
· Let the water dry out in the tree stand.
· Contain debris and needles.
· Cut tree into smaller parts (for larger trees).
Trees are often recycled into mulch but can also be used as soil erosion barriers or feeding areas for fish or birds. Check your local laws to see what is permissible in your area.
 
 

Cool, unsettled weather to plague northwestern US into early next week

By Kyle Elliott , AccuWeather meteorologist
November 30,2016, 3:30:43PM,EST
 Multiple storms will keep chilly air and unsettled weather locked over the Pacific Northwest through early next week.
The first of these storms will deliver rain and mountain snow to the Northwest into Thursday.
Rain is expected to dampen cities such as Seattle and Portland, Oregon, while a mixture of rain and snow douses Spokane, Washington.
Though enough snow may fall to whiten the ground in Spokane, the storm system should remain too weak to produce significant snowfall in regions other than the Washington Cascades.
Feature graphic hd11

In the highest elevations of the Cascades, between 3 to 6 inches of snow is anticipated to pile up and may cause hazardous driving conditions on I-90 near Snoqualmie and Stampede Pass.
Motorists traveling through the Cascades should consider slowing down when traveling on snow-covered or icy roadways.
Even the slightest bit of snow or ice on paved surfaces can cause a vehicle to hydroplane or tires to lose their traction on the roadway, thus creating an enhanced risk for traffic accidents.
During Thursday, snow will push eastward into the northern Rockies and bring a general coating to an inch or two of snow to cities like Salt Lake City and Bozeman, Montana.
Feature graphic hd18
“From Wednesday night through Friday, 3 to 6 inches of snow will inundate the Bitterroots of Idaho and lay down a fresh coat of powder for skiers to enjoy,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore said.
Snow will surge eastward yet again on Friday and provide 2 to 4 inches of fresh powder for major ski resorts such as Aspen and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, stated Gilmore.
After a brief lull in the action in the Northwest on Thursday night, another storm system will plow onshore on Friday and be followed by an even stronger storm on Saturday night and Sunday.
Related:
Check the AccuWeather Minutecast® for Seattle
Portland, Oregon, weather forecast
AccuWeather US Winter Forecast 2016-2017

Between the two storms, 2 to 4 inches of rain may soak the lower elevations with 2 to 4 feet of snow likely in the mountains.
Snow levels will drop to around 1,500 feet by Sunday, and a high-impact snow event will unfold across the Cascades of Washington and Oregon and the Bitterroot Mountains, according to Gilmore.
“Snow may even fall in Seattle and Portland on Sunday night and Monday and cause a rare whitening of the ground in these traditional wet cities,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
 
 

5 killed in Alabama after tornadoes plague the Deep South


By Alex Sosnowski , AccuWeather senior meteorologist
November 30,2016, 3:50:44PM,EST
 
 
Multiple people were killed and several others injured after a tornado swept through Jackson County, Alabama, shortly after midnight on Wednesday.
Thousands were still without power in Alabama as of 7 a.m. EDT Wednesday.
The tornado was part of a severe storm system plaguing parts of the Deep South since early this week.
Tornadoes and heavy winds caused other damage throughout the South.
Tornado severe south
A funnel cloud was spotted in Leesburg, Mississippi, on Tuesday, November 29. (Twitter photo/Linsey Smith via Storyful)
A National Weather Service spotter reported a tornado northeast of Tullahoma, Tennessee, with debris and pea-sized hail around 9 p.m. on Tuesday night. Multiple tree and and power lines were reportedly down.
Near Preston, Mississippi, two mobile homes were damaged, according to local emergency management.
For a portion of the lower Mississippi Valley, this was the second night in a row of severe weather.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Severe Weather Center: Watches and warnings
AccuWeather MinuteCast®: Time the storms for your location
South Central US interactive radar

A surge of warm and humid air on Tuesday set the stage to allow a few of the strongest storms to produce a tornado.
The first few severe storms began to erupt during Tuesday afternoon.
Since most of the severe weather is occurring after dark, the danger factor was elevated.
Severe house damaged
Severe storms in the south destroyed a house near Underwood Mountain, Alabama. (Twitter photo/Colbert EMA)
 

Mild conditions in store for National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in DC

By Faith Eherts , AccuWeather meteorologist
November 30,2016, 9:34:07PM,EST
 
 
The National Christmas Tree will light up at President's Park in Washington, D.C., amid clear, calm weather on Thursday night.
On the first day of the month, tens of thousands of people will gather near the White House to catch a glimpse of the First Family and several celebrity headliners.
Mild and rainy weather will soak the mid-Atlantic through Wednesday night, saturating lawns and sidewalks for Thursday.
2015 National Christmas Tree lighting
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their family and others, react as the National Christmas Tree is lighted on the Ellipse in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rain will depart the area during Wednesday night. A push of dry air will allow peeks of sun to sneak through as spectators arrive at the White House lawn throughout the day on Thursday.
"It will be nice and dry with a mainly clear sky thanks to an area of high pressure edging into the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve D. Travis said.
RELATED:
10 ways to reduce your environmental impact this holiday season
How Rockefeller Center chooses a Christmas tree each year
10 awe-inspiring Christmas trees across America

Cooler conditions are also expected to take over for Thursday, though high temperatures will remain well above the seasonal average of 52 F.
High temperatures will trend downward from the low 70s on Wednesday to around 60 on Thursday in the nation’s capital.
"For anyone heading out early for the lighting, temperatures will generally be in the middle to upper 50s late in the afternoon," Travis said.
Those arriving early to the event will therefore be able to forgo the hats and winter jackets, at least during the afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to fall quickly after sunset (which takes place at 4:45 p.m. EST), though it will be an unseasonably mild evening. By the time the tree lights up at 7:00 p.m. EST, temperatures will dip to near 50.
Feature graphic hd31

Light winds will create RealFeel® Temperatures in the middle 40s.
Anyone planning to attend the event after dark should prepare for the chill with coats, hats and gloves despite the mild afternoon weather.
Temperatures will continue to fall through the night, becoming increasingly chilly as performers including Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor and Garth Brooks take the stage.
 

December Outlook Released: Colder Than Average in the Northwest, Northern Plains; Warmer Than Typical in the Southwest, Southeast

Jon Erdman
Published: November 30,2016

December 2016 may be colder than average in parts of the northern half of the United States, according to an updated outlook released by The Weather Company, an IBM Business.
The coldest air will likely be focused in the West, with occasional bursts of very cold air across the major energy demand centers of the northern and eastern U.S.,  Dr. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist with The Weather Company, said in a news release.
Pictured here is the December 2016 temperature outlook. Areas not shaded have an equal chance of above- or below-average temperatures.
(The Weather Company, an IBM Business)
One instigator may be La Niña, the periodic cooling of eastern Pacific equatorial water which can exert some influence on the atmospheric pattern, particularly in the colder months.
(MORE: La Niña is Expected to Last Through Winter | Winter Storm Central)
Crawford said blocking high pressure aloft near the Aleutian Islands, forced by La Niña, is setting in earlier than anticipated.
"The upcoming pattern should drive the coldest air into western Canada, but it will likely 'smear' eastward often, resulting in shots of very cold weather across the northern into the eastern U.S.," he said.
Potential pattern over the Pacific Ocean and North America later in December 2016 that may force persistent, cold air into the western and parts of northern U.S.
Winter seasonal forecaster Dr. Judah Cohen of Atmospheric and Environmental Research agrees that a big change is on the way in December.
The  blocking high pressure near the Aleutians will allow cold air to pool in Alaska and western Canada for the first half of December, Cohen said in his most recent outlook.
(MAPS: 10-day National High/Low Forecasts)
"More expansive cold air should also favor a more rapid expansion of snow cover across the continent (North America)," Cohen added.

Average December Highs
In contrast, December is expected to be slightly warmer than average overall in the Southeast, including most of Florida, as well as parts of the Desert Southwest near the Mexican border.
This will be a sharp contrast to one of the nation's warmest Novembers.
Departures from average temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) from Nov. 1-28, 2016.
But it's possible, as of this writing, that dozens of U.S. cities could have one of their top three warmest Novembers on record.
MORE: Winter Storm Argos

Sprawling Storm Dumps 2 Feet of Snow, Spawns Tornadoes, Fans a Destructive Wildfire and Brings Drought Relief

Chris Dolce
Published: November 30,2016

A multifaceted and sprawling storm system across the central and eastern states has produced a number of major impacts the last few days. Those impacts - from tornadoes and winds fanning a destructive wildfire, to heavy snow and drought relief -  have been both bad and good.
An overview of the storm system this week in the central and eastern states, and its impacts Monday-Wednesday. The surface fronts illustration is from Tuesday afternoon.
This image illustrates the wide-reaching nature of the weather system, with low pressure stalled in the northern Plains, and its associated surface fronts spanning across parts of the eastern and southern states.
Here are more specifics on the four impactful aspects of this week's storm system.

1.) 2 Feet of Snow in the Plains

A sculpture of a bison on the state Capitol grounds is covered in snow in Bismarck, North Dakota, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, the second day of Winter Storm Blanche in central North Dakota. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP)
With the area of low pressure stalled in the northern Plains, the Dakotas and eastern Montana dealt periods of snow Monday-Wednesday, adding up to some impressive totals.
The top total as of Wednesday morning was 24 inches, or two feet, near Van Hook Park, North Dakota.
Bismarck, North Dakota, was buried by 18 inches, making it the heaviest snowstorm there in 23 years, and the 10th heaviest three-day total dating to 1886.
Gusty winds in combination with snow led to poor travel conditions. This forced closures on a portion of Interstate 90 in western South Dakota, and a stretch of Interstate 94 in North Dakota.
(MORE: Winter Storm Blanche Snow Totals)
The storm also spread snow into northern Maine later Tuesday, where up to 15 inches had piled up as of Wednesday morning.

2.) Strong Winds Fan Destructive Tennessee Wildfires

The Alamo Steakhouse is damaged from the wildfires around Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Michael Patrick/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
As the cold front associated with the storm system pushed east, strong winds developed across the South on Monday.
Wildfires near the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, areas quickly grew out of control as those strong winds fanned the flames across dry vegetation from a long-term drought. The Gatlinburg Fire Department reported a wind gust to 63 mph early Monday evening as the fire was at its peak.
An estimated 15,000 acres were scorched, destroying homes, buildings and leaving four people dead.
The smoke plume from the fire could easily be spotted on Doppler Radar Monday evening. At the same time, some drought-helping rainfall was closing in from the west, which eventually aided the situation.
(PHOTOS: Destructive Tennessee Wildfires)

3.) Two Rounds of Drought Relief

Estimated rainfall totals in the South this week through Wednesday morning. (NOAA)
The one piece of good news from this weather system is that it brought the first widespread rainfall in weeks to the parched southeastern United States Monday into Tuesday.
Atlanta saw its heaviest calendar day rainfall (2.33 inches) since Dec. 24, 2015, on Tuesday. That also ended a stretch of 43 consecutive days without measurable rain in the city.
Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina both saw their first calendar-day soaking of an inch or more since August on Tuesday.
A second round of much-needed rain pushed through the South Tuesday night-Wednesday. Oddly enough, that round of rain prompted flash flood warnings Wednesday morning in parts of northern Alabama and southeast Tennessee that are in extreme to exceptional drought. Radar estimated that 3 to 6 inches of rain had fallen in some locations.

4.) Tornadoes Sweep Across the South

Preliminary tornado reports from November 29 through early morning November 30, 2016. (Data: NOAA/NWS/SPC)
Another unfortunate aspect of this storm is the severe weather that it produced in the South.
The tail end of the frontal boundary in combination with strong jet stream winds resulted in the development rotating thunderstorms from Louisiana to Mississippi, Alabama and southeast Tennessee late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
(LATEST NEWS: Destructive Storms Hit the South)
There was a preliminary 22 reports of tornadoes across those states, although official National Weather Service surveys will determine the actual number of tornadoes that touched down.
At least five deaths have been blamed on the storms as of Wednesday afternoon: three in Jackson County, Alabama, and two in Polk County, Tennessee.

PHOTOS: Severe Storms Strike the South

Nighttime Tornadoes More Than Twice as Likely to Be Deadly

Jon Erdman
Published: November 30,2016

Perhaps the only thing more frightening than a tornado is one that strikes while you're asleep.
Tornadoes occurring at night are more than twice as likely to be deadly as those during the day, according to a recent study.
Examining roughly 48,000 tornadoes in the U.S. from 1950 to 2005, a 2008 study led by Walker Ashley from Northern Illinois University found roughly one in every 20 overnight tornadoes were killers, compared to roughly one in every 50 daytime deadly tornadoes.
(MORE: Tornado Central)
A house is damaged by a tornado that ripped through the town of Rosalie, Ala., around midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016.
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)



































Making up only about 27 percent of all tornadoes, these nocturnal events comprised 39 percent of tornado deaths and 42 percent of killer tornadoes in that 55-year period.
A recent example was at least one deadly overnight tornado in northeastern Alabama early Wednesday morning.
The Ashley study also found that a plateauing in tornado deaths in the past few decades could be explained primarily by an overall increase in nighttime fatalities.

Why More Nighttime Deaths?

Some reasons for this are more obvious.
Unless lit by at least somewhat frequent lightning, you may not see a tornado at night. One challenge the meteorological and social science communities face is getting the public to take shelter immediately, without first "confirming the threat" of a tornado by looking outside, wasting precious seconds to reach shelter.
Fewer storm spotters may be willing to take the risk storm chasing at night, reducing the ability of meteorologists to confirm tornadoes in progress at night.
Of course, you may not be awake at the time.
"Another problem is that people are often asleep and caught unaware," said The Weather Channel severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes.
If you're a sound sleeper and don't have a way to receive warnings overnight, the consequences could be deadly.
Where we are at night is another factor.
"People are usually at home, often in structures that are not as sturdy as their place of work. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable," said Forbes.

Where Nighttime Tornadoes Are Most Common

Percent of each state's tornadoes from 1950 through 2005 that occurred at night.
(Adapted from Ashley et al. 2008)
A disconcerting finding in the study is that for many of the most tornadic states in the U.S., a sizable number of tornadoes occur at night.
One-third to just under one-half of all tornadoes in 11 states from Oklahoma to West Virginia in 1950 to 2005 touched down at night, according to the study.
The peak state was 46 percent in Tennessee.
In another 2007 study, Ashley found the South has some of the highest numbers of mobile homes in the nation. Furthermore, 61 percent of tornado fatalities in mobile homes occur at night.
All three fatalities in the November 29-30, 2016 overnight tornado in Rosalie, Alabama, were in a mobile home.
Add population growth in the South, primarily in large cities and their suburbs, and you can understand the overall increasing vulnerability of this region to these events.
The calendar also plays a role in high nocturnal tornado death counts.

Nighttime Tornadoes a Year Round Concern in the South

U.S. nocturnal (defined as from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. CST) tornadoes (F/EF1 or stronger) by month from 1953-2015.






































Unlike other parts of the country enduring harsh winter cold that eliminates the instability needed, tornadoes can be a concern any time of year in parts of the South.Thus, given the fewer hours of daylight, any cold-season southern tornadoes have a greater chance of occurring after sunset.
Even the core winter months of December through February have averaged 3 to 6 nocturnal tornadoes in the U.S. each month from 1953 through 2015, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.
There's also a pronounced nighttime tornado maximum in November, coinciding with the often-discussed "second season" for severe weather targeting the Deep South.
(MORE: November's Largest Tornado Outbreaks)
These colder month tornadoes often occur with a very strong jet stream, meaning winds aloft can move the parent supercells or squall lines in which these tornadoes are embedded at speeds of 60 mph or more, giving little time to seek shelter.
"There have been many infamous nocturnal tornadoes," said Forbes.
"One struck Evansville, Indiana, on Nov. 6, 2005. Nearly all of the fatalities were in mobile homes. Deadly nocturnal tornadoes struck Florida on Feb. 23, 1998, and Feb. 2, 2007."
Some other deadly nocturnal tornadoes in recent times include:
  • Greensburg, Kansas: May 4, 2007 - 10 fatalities
  • Riegelwood, North Carolina: November 15, 2005 - 8 fatalities
  • Edgewater, Alabama: April 8, 1998 - 32 fatalities
Also, the public's overall awareness of severe weather may not be as high during the winter months, even in areas that can and do experience severe weather any month of the year.

What You Can Do

How can you be warned if you're sound asleep? Here are some tips:
  • Buy a NOAA weather radio. You can find these at most electronics retailers. They feature warning alarms that can be set to sound loudly when any National Weather Service tornado or severe thunderstorm watch or warning is issued.
     
  • Your smartphone can alert you. Most newer smartphones are capable of receiving wireless emergency alerts from your local NWS office. These include tornado warnings. Make sure your smartphone is charged sufficiently and left on overnight, and a special tone and vibration will occur twice when a tornado warning is issued. Note, however, this will not sound for a tornado watch or severe thunderstorm warning.
     
  • Other weather apps can also alert you. Many weather apps, including The Weather Channel and Weather Underground apps, can also send alerts to your smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch.
     
  • Know where to go. "Be sure you know your safe location ahead of time so you can get there quickly, even if you have to get there in the middle of the night," says Forbes. "Keep flashlights handy."
In general, your awareness of the threat for overnight severe weather, before you go to sleep, is very important.
Is a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch extending into the overnight hours? Or is there a threat of severe weather developing overnight? Make sure your weather radio or smartphone is ready to alert you. It may save your life.
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been an incurable weather geek since a tornado narrowly missed his childhood home in Wisconsin at age 7.

Winter Storm Blanche Marches Across Northern Plains; North Dakota Roads Reopen, but Some Schools Remain Closed

Pam Wright and Sean Breslin
Published: November 30,2016

Winter Storm Blanche continued its march across the northern Plains Wednesday after leaving behind feet of snow in mountainous areas of the West and creating treacherous travel conditions across several states, including the Dakotas.
The snowstorm clobbered North and South Dakota with more than a foot of snow, providing the first wintry scene of the year for some towns. As a result, schools were canceled and drivers were urged to be extremely careful on snow-covered roads.
(MORE: Check the Forecast for Winter Storm Blanche)
The highest total from Blanche so far was estimated at 56 inches in the upper elevations near Elk Mountain, Wyoming.
Here's what we know about the storm's impacts so far.

North Dakota

Top snowfall total: 24 inches, near Van Hook Park
Some schools were canceled again Wednesday in North Dakota as Blanche kept the state in its snowy grip.
Interstate 94 was closed Tuesday evening between Mandan and Dickinson, according to the North Dakota DOT. No travel was advised on most roads in central North Dakota because the compacted snow was making roads slick, but by Wednesday, the road was reopened.
With more than a foot of snow on the ground in parts of the state on Monday, Gov. Jack Dalrymple issued an emergency evacuation order of the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camps on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the governor's office. Citing the winter storm and the expectation of continued cold temperatures as reasons for the order, Dalrymple's declaration forbids protesters from returning to the camp indefinitely.
(MORE: Yes, There's a 'Blizzard Alley,' and It's in This Region)
In an interview with the West Fargo Pioneer, governor spokesman Jeff Zent said the state does not plan to remove people from the site.
"We’re not going to go in and make arrests and forcibly remove everybody that’s on that site," Zent told the Pioneer. "We fully expect the federal government to take the lead on the management of their property."
A travel alert was issued for the central part of the state Monday as Blanche began dumping an expected foot or more of snow on cities like Minot and Bismarck. The North Dakota Department of Transportation asked motorists to be careful on roadways that were likely to become slick and dangerous, and some schools started late Monday, according to the AP.
Bismarck's 8.7 inches of snow Monday broke a 111-year-old daily record, the AP also reported. This led to dozens of crashes in and around the city, the report added.

South Dakota

Top snowfall total: 36 inches, near Cheyenne Crossing
Whiteout conditions made traveling along Interstate 90 so dangerous Tuesday afternoon that officials closed a stretch of the freeway between Spearfish and Rapid City in western South Dakota, according to the state's Department of Transportation. The news came after parts of the state had already received more than two feet of snow from Blanche.
I-90 was reopened Wednesday but was in poor condition in some areas.
Many other roads remained slippery due to snow and ice in western and central South Dakota through Tuesday evening. In some areas, plows were removed from roads until conditions improved, KDLT.com reported.
Black Hills State University in Spearfish closed early Tuesday, according to KOTA-TV.

California

Top snowfall total: 24 inches, multiple locations
Heavy snow fell Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning in California's higher elevations, making travel more hazardous as the winter storm was bearing down on the Sierra Nevada. Blanche may also be responsible for stranding a husband and wife who have since been located.
Light snow falls in Frazier Park, California, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.
(AP Photo/Nick Ut)



































Yuba City couple Rory and Susan Holloter went for a drive Saturday morning in El Dorado County, but more than 24 hours later, they texted family members to say they were stuck in the snow, the county's sheriff's office told KCRA.com. The family received multiple texts from Susan, but they were concerned about the couple's whereabouts, especially Rory, the report added.
"We don't know what's happened to him either because he left the vehicle and he hiked away from the vehicle," Susan's sister, Sondra Winberry, told KCRA. "We don't know if he's able to get back."
After suspending the search Sunday night, officials went back out Monday morning to look for the couple, the report also said. On Monday afternoon, they were both found in good condition, according to the Sacramento Bee. They had a sleeping bag, food and water, Susan told family members and reporters following the rescue.
The news out of Sequoia National Park was much worse. The body of 41-year-old Vince Scalise of Phoenix was found Monday near Panther Creek and the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, according to the AP. He was supposed to return from a backpacking trip on Wednesday, but the National Park Service was notified Saturday night that Scalise still hadn't been seen, the AP also reported.
The cause of death has not yet been determined, but Scalise was found in an area that received rain and snow, and temperatures fell below freezing, the report added.

Colorado

Top snowfall total: 28 inches, near Wolf Creek Pass
More than a foot of snow fell from Blanche in Colorado's mountains, quickly escalating the risk of avalanches in some areas.
The state's Department of Transportation closed Loveland Pass Sunday evening, citing the possibility of avalanches, according to the Denver Post. Later Sunday night, I-70's eastbound lanes were closed in Glenwood Canyon because of crashes, the report added.
(MORE: Weather-Related Car Accidents Are Deadlier Than Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Floods)
"Everybody gets in a hurry to get home," State Trooper Tim Sutherland told the Denver Post. "Drivers get up on the car in front of them. If that car in front breaks or loses control on ice? If you’re back, you see what that car’s going to do. It’ll give you time to react."
Denver was expected to receive little to no snow from Blanche.

Utah

Top snowfall total: 41 inches, Alta
Snow fell on northern Utah for much of Monday, and parts of Salt Lake County received up to 2 inches by the morning rush hour, the AP reported. In Ogden, up to 4 inches of snowfall was reported Monday morning, the report added.
In central Utah, Interstate 15 was closed Sunday near Scipio due to heavy snow, according to the Deseret News. The Utah Highway Patrol said traffic was stalled for hours on some snow-covered roads Sunday, the report added.
Although no roads were closed Monday, the state Department of Transportation advised or required all drivers to have snow tires, chains or four-wheel drive in some areas, such as canyons or passes.

Idaho

Top snowfall total: 13.5 inches, near Pocatello
Multiple crashes were reported on the Gem State's roadways as heavy snow made travel dangerous over the weekend, according to East Idaho News. Hazardous travel was expected to remain a problem Monday and Tuesday, the report added.
"Winter driving conditions are in effect for Eastern Idaho. Idaho State Police encourage motorists to use caution and increase travel time to reach their destinations," Idaho State Police said in an advisory released Monday morning.
4 pm PST Snow down to 3000 feet in Idaho. Watch for slick spots this evening along

Wyoming

Top snowfall total: 62 inches, near Elk Mountain
Although many roads remained snowy across the state on Monday, no major highway closures were reported. Several roads in areas that typically receive the most snowfall have already been closed for the winter, according to KOWB.
Blizzard conditions were reported Sunday morning and afternoon in Arlington, according to the National Weather Service.

5 Dead as Storms Rip Through the South; More Than a Dozen Tornadoes Confirmed

Pam Wright
Published: November 30,2016

Five people have been killed as thunderstorms ripped through the South early Wednesday.
Three people were killed in Alabama when a confirmed EF2 tornado touched down in Rosalie, Alabama. All three were in a mobile home when the tornado tore through the town, Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen told the Associated Press early Wednesday. Another person in the home was critically injured, Harnen said.
(PHOTOS: Deadly Tennessee Wildfire Aftermath, as Seen from Above)
Two others were killed in Tennessee as the storms barreled across the state, reports AP.
So far, more than a dozen tornadoes have been confirmed from Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Those twisters were confirmed in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Alabama

In addition to the reported fatalities, three children and three adults were injured after a daycare center in which they were seeking shelter was flattened in Ider, in DeKalb County. According to AP, the family owned the daycare had left their mobile home to seek shelter at the daycare center during the storm. The three adults are listed in critical condition.
There have been 25 others from the area transported to the hospital with minor injuries from the storm, reports WRCB. The Ider tornado was assigned a preliminary rating of EF3 by a survey team from the National Weather Service.
Up to 20 buildings, including a Baptist church and a shopping plaza, were destroyed in Rosalie, Harnen said.
At one point, Alabama Power reported 3,500 customers without power.
The NWS confirmed tornadoes in Madison (EF2), North Pickens (EF1), Jackson (EF2), Frankin (EF2) and Lamar (unrated) counties. Two were reported in Winston County, an EF1 tornado and one that was unrated.

Tennessee

Two people have been killed and at least nine others injured in severe weather that hit the state overnight.
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Dean Flener told the Associated Press a husband and wife died and two others were injured in Polk County. He said at least seven injuries were reported in nearby McMinn County. He provided no further details.
Flener says suspected tornadic activity was reported in six counties, all in the southeastern corner of Tennessee.
(FORECAST: Severe Weather Threatens the South)
The Polk County sheriff labeled the area a "disaster zone" and confirm that there have been a "few fatalities," reports WRCB. After a damage survey, the tornado was rated EF3, the strongest confirmed tornado in the state from Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
The sheriff notes that power lines are down and several buildings have been damaged in the county.
The NWS also confirmed tornadoes in Athens (EF2), Tullahoma (EF1) and Whitehall (EF2).

Mississippi

According to the NWS, a likely tornado in Noxubee County, Mississippi, trapped people inside a camp house on Ebenezer Church Road on Tuesday. Four homes were reportedly destroyed along that road.
: Benton PD Chief Rocky King tells us there are at least a "few" fatalities. @WRCB
 
A tornado described as "large and extremely dangerous" was reported near Mashulaville on Tuesday.
In Scott, Mississippi, a 250- to 300-yard swath of damage was reported from Highway 481 to Debates Road, the NWS also reported. Roof damage was spotted on Mejelk Road and a tree collapsed on top of a mobile home. A tree fell on top of a house and destroyed two sheds on Reeves Road, but no injuries were reported.
In Grenada, Mississippi, three homes on McSwine Road were damaged by thunderstorm winds.
(MORE: Nighttime Tornadoes Twice as Likely to Be Deadly)
Officials report trees and power lines were down across much of north and central Mississippi, causing numerous power outages.
There were also reports of baseball- and golf ball-sized hail hitting the central and north parts of the Magnolia State on Tuesday.
The NWS confirmed two EF1 tornadoes near Aberdeen and Forkville, Mississippi.
An EF0 tornado was also reported in Westwego, Louisiana.

November 29-30 Severe Weather Recap: Tornadoes Tear Through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana

November 30,2016
Severe thunderstorms rumbled through much of the South and East on November 29-30, 2016, bringing tornadoes to at least four states, and wind damage to nearly every state in the South.
(LATEST NEWS: Tornadoes Tear Through the South)
Roughly two dozen reports of tornadoes were received by the Storm Prediction Center from four states Tuesday into early Wednesday in what was likely the most active day for tornadoes in the U.S. in just over three months.
Preliminary tornado reports from November 29 through early morning November 30, 2016.
(Data: NOAA/NWS/SPC)
Damage surveys by National Weather Service meteorologists will firm up actual tornado counts and paths. So far, 19 tornadoes have been confirmed in four states (Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi).
We have additional perspective on the tornadoes in our recap section below.
(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map

Severe Weather Recap

Among the over 100 reports of severe weather received by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center from Tuesday and early Wednesday, there were roughly 22 reports of tornadoes from northern Louisiana to central and eastern Mississippi, northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.
So far, 1-2 EF3 tornadoes, five EF2 tornadoes, nine EF1 tornadoes, one EF0 tornado and two unrated tornadoes have been confirmed by the National Weather Service.
One of those tornadoes in far northeast Alabama's Jackson County around midnight turned deadly.
This was the nation's first deadly tornado in over six months, ending the third longest tornado death-free streak on record in the U.S. since 1950, according to The Weather Channel severe weather expert, Dr. Greg Forbes.
Local NWS offices issued over 120 tornado warnings from Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.
Trees and power poles were knocked down on Tuesday afternoon by an EF1 tornado in Scott County, MS. A EF1 tornado also destroyed 4 homes in Winston County, MS. Damage was also reported in Aberdeen, MS. A tornado was spotted near Columbus, MS.
A confirmed EF1 tornado hit near Tullahoma in Coffee County, Tennessee. The storm blew over trees and caused roads to be impassible. Power lines were also downed.
By the time surveys are completed, this may be the most number of tornadoes in the U.S. in any 24-hour period since the freak Indiana/Ohio tornado event on August 24, 2016.
There were several reports of tornadoes Monday afternoon, as well, including at least nine in Iowa and one in Louisiana. No significant damage has been reported, however.

Above: Video of a tornado in Parkersburg, Iowa, on November 28, 2016. (Courtesy: Melissa Avis)Monday afternoon, severe thunderstorms knocked down trees across parts of central Mississippi, including one onto the Town Hall of Eden, Mississippi, and another onto this house in Warren County, Mississippi.
Sunday, there were four reports of brief tornadoes in south-central Nebraska. Fortunately, no reports of damage have been received from these brief tornadoes.

Slow 'Second' Season of Severe Weather, So Far

The second half of October and, especially, November can often be a "second" season for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, particularly in parts of the South. That hadn't been the case so far this year, however, through Thanksgiving week.
Prior to Monday, we hadn't seen a single day with at least 50 reports of severe weather in the U.S. since October 6, when at least eight tornadoes were spawned in Kansas.
It's been over 7 weeks since we had a day with over 50 reports in the U.S. Today could snap that streak. http://wxch.nl/2gnjeND 

So far, 2016 has featured a below-average number of tornadoes. Through three weeks of November, the U.S. tornado count for the year-to-date was 24 percent below average.
For more details on the slow tornado pace in 2016, see the link below.
(MORE: Lack of Tornadoes Continues in "Second" Tornado Season)
MORE: Strange Tornado Damage