A multiday severe weather outbreak spanning more than 25 states has put tens of millions of people on alert for powerful thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes. The most significant concerns are for the weekend, but severe weather is also possible earlier in the week. In southeastern Oklahoma, northeastern Texas, western Arkansas, and northwestern Louisiana, more than 4 million people are at risk for severe thunderstorms. The main threats are large hail and damaging winds, with a potential for supercell thunderstorms in the region.
On Thursday, the severe weather threat will shift to eastern Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia, and the western Florida Panhandle. Cities like Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham are included in the level 1 threat outlook. The potential multiday severe weather outbreak could begin on Friday, with the activity intensifying into the overnight hours as a storm system moves across the central US. The system will bring moisture from the Gulf into areas as far north as Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, creating a favorable setup for all severe weather threats.
Forecasts suggest that a low-pressure system will track across the central Plains on Friday, bringing a strong cold front with it. Wind shear and moisture will combine in the Ark-La-Tex region, lower Mississippi Valley, and potentially as far north as St. Louis, Memphis, and Little Rock, creating a favorable environment for severe weather threats. Supercell thunderstorms and squall lines could bring damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes, with the possibility of strong tornadoes. More than 13 million people from northern Mississippi to Illinois are in a level 3 threat.
Moving into Saturday, a powerful storm system will continue moving eastward, putting more people at risk of strong to severe thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast to the southern Great Lakes. Rich Gulf moisture is expected to set up from central and southern Mississippi into northern Alabama, creating a favorable environment for severe weather. Supercell thunderstorms and squall lines could bring hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. More than 18 million people from Louisiana to the Tennessee Valley are at a level 3 risk, including cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta.
By Sunday, nearly 45 million people along the East Coast, from Florida to New Jersey, are at risk of severe weather. While the threat of hail and tornadoes diminishes, there is still a risk of damaging winds. The Interstate 95 corridor from the Southeast to the Northeast is included in the level 2 threat outlook. Major cities such as Savannah, Charleston, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are among those facing the risk of severe weather. The threat of severe weather will persist throughout the weekend and impact a significant portion of the country.
