Massive winter storm spawns severe weather threat across Gulf Coast, Tornado Watch issued

Massive winter storm spawns severe weather threat across Gulf Coast, Tornado Watch issued

While a massive winter storm plunges much of the country into a deep freeze of ice and snow, the same system threatens nearly 10 million people across parts of the Deep South and Gulf Coast with a new hazard — severe thunderstorms. A Tornado Watch was issued Sunday afternoon through 6:00 p.m. CT for parts of southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwestern Georgia. This latest dimension of the already historic winter system is a result of Arctic air dipping farther south than initially expected — not so much at ground level, but a few thousand feet up. However, the associated dip in the jet stream is drawing in more warm air from the Gulf—the clash between these air masses is what set the stage for Sunday's thunderstorms.