Severe thunderstorms are expected to impact a large area of the united states, starting Sunday and continuing into Monday. Forecasters predict damaging winds, tornadoes, and hail up to three inches in diameter across multiple states, affecting over 39 million people.
- Severe thunderstorms expected across the U.S.
- Risk includes damaging winds, tornadoes, and hail.
- 39 million people at risk on Sunday.
- Threat will intensify Sunday evening.
- Monday's storms shift eastward to Southeast.
- Active weather period may continue afterward.
The upcoming severe weather event is driven by a cold front interacting with warm, moist air from the South. This combination creates conditions conducive to powerful thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has identified an enhanced risk level of three out of five on their scale for regions stretching from northeastern Texas through northern Louisiana and into parts of Ohio and Michigan.
The storm threat will escalate Sunday evening as initial storms develop in Missouri and Illinois before moving southward into Arkansas and Louisiana. These storms may intensify throughout the night, leading to larger outbreaks that could include strong tornadoes especially in eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, and southern Illinois.
- Hail size: Up to three inches in diameter.
- Population at risk: Over 39 million people across affected states.
- Enhanced risk areas: Southern Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina on Monday.
On Monday, the severe weather threat will shift eastward towards Virginia down through Alabama and Georgia. In these areas, storms are anticipated to be particularly intense with potential embedded tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center warns that this severe weather pattern may continue beyond this weekend due to another system likely following behind it.
This severe thunderstorm event poses significant risks across a wide swath of the United States. Residents in affected areas should remain vigilant as forecasters expect dangerous conditions including high winds and large hail through both days this weekend into early next week.
