The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of severe storms across 12 states on Friday, including tornadoes, strong wind, and hail as large as baseballs. This warning is significant as the storms are expected to hit a large area from the Great Lakes region to the South. People are advised to stay updated with the latest weather information from their local NWS office to ensure their safety.
Portions of 17 states are expecting at least a slight risk of thunderstorms over the weekend. The impacted states include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Severe storm outbreaks are projected for Friday, beginning in the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Valleys. The NWS has issued a “moderate risk” for severe thunderstorms in several specific areas, with lower risks persisting for many more states.
According to the NWS forecast, there is a 10 percent chance of tornadoes in various states, including southeast Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. A smaller chance of 5 percent stretches from Minnesota to Louisiana. The biggest risk for hail will be in specific areas of Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas. The Storm Prediction Center lead forecaster, Jared Guyer, highlighted the strong winds associated with the storm system, which increases the concern for severe weather potential including tornadoes.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued a forecast on Thursday indicating a regional outbreak of severe storms likely in the Lower and Mid-Missouri and Mississippi Valleys, and Lower Ohio Valley late Friday into Saturday morning. The forecast includes the possibility of tornadoes, widespread damaging winds, and large hail. This system is expected to bring a concern for various severe weather events, including strong tornadoes and significant damaging wind gusts. Local NWS offices are expected to issue weather alerts or warnings related to the storms in the affected areas on Friday as the storms begin to develop.
Overall, the severe storm outbreak across multiple states is a significant weather event that highlights the importance of staying informed and prepared for potential tornadoes, strong winds, and hail. The NWS and local weather offices are monitoring the situation closely and issuing forecasts and warnings to ensure public safety. It is crucial for residents in the impacted areas to pay attention to official weather updates and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property from the potentially dangerous weather conditions expected on Friday.
