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Destructive Thunderstorms From The Southern Plains To Ohio Valley
March 15, 2024 at 12:52 AM EDT
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologists
Dangerous spring-like weather continues to race across the Midwest and Deep South tonight, with another day of severe storms expected on Friday.
Wednesday featured numerous reports of large hail across central and northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, including throughout the Kansas City metro area. There were even a few tornado reports on Wednesday between Manhattan and Topeka in Kansas.
Today's setup will be very similar to Wednesday as a storm system continues to strengthen over the Mississippi Valley. Ahead of this system, plenty of warm, moist air will continue to flow northward and will collide with cooler, drier air sinking southward out of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The clash of these two air masses will set the stage for a large severe weather risk for tonight.
A Tornado Watch remains in place across northeastern Texas into extreme southeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas. Another Tornado Watch is in place across central Kentucky and southern Ohio. Additionally, Severe Thunderstorm Watches remain in effect for northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. Another Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center has a large Slight Risk area stretching across northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, much of Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and central Ohio. This includes cities such as Dallas, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.
Threats in these areas include large hail greater than 1 inch in diameter, damaging wind gusts in excess of 55 mph, and an isolated tornado or two.
Within this risk area, an Enhanced Risk is found across north-central Texas, southeastern Oklahoma through northeastern Arkansas, including Little Rock and Jonesboro, Ark. In these locations, there is an elevated threat of a few tornadoes and large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter.
A few stronger thunderstorms will likely persist into the day on Friday from Texas to the Carolinas as a cold front continues to sag south and southeastward. A small Slight Risk area is found in Texas, including around Austin and San Antonio, while a Marginal Risk includes cities such as Alexandria, La., Jackson, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C.
The primary threat on Friday will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, though large hail greater than 1 inch in diameter and an isolated tornado will be possible, especially in Texas.
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.
The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
Wednesday featured numerous reports of large hail across central and northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, including throughout the Kansas City metro area. There were even a few tornado reports on Wednesday between Manhattan and Topeka in Kansas.
Today's setup will be very similar to Wednesday as a storm system continues to strengthen over the Mississippi Valley. Ahead of this system, plenty of warm, moist air will continue to flow northward and will collide with cooler, drier air sinking southward out of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The clash of these two air masses will set the stage for a large severe weather risk for tonight.
A Tornado Watch remains in place across northeastern Texas into extreme southeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas. Another Tornado Watch is in place across central Kentucky and southern Ohio. Additionally, Severe Thunderstorm Watches remain in effect for northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. Another Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center has a large Slight Risk area stretching across northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, much of Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and central Ohio. This includes cities such as Dallas, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.
Threats in these areas include large hail greater than 1 inch in diameter, damaging wind gusts in excess of 55 mph, and an isolated tornado or two.
Within this risk area, an Enhanced Risk is found across north-central Texas, southeastern Oklahoma through northeastern Arkansas, including Little Rock and Jonesboro, Ark. In these locations, there is an elevated threat of a few tornadoes and large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter.
A few stronger thunderstorms will likely persist into the day on Friday from Texas to the Carolinas as a cold front continues to sag south and southeastward. A small Slight Risk area is found in Texas, including around Austin and San Antonio, while a Marginal Risk includes cities such as Alexandria, La., Jackson, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C.
The primary threat on Friday will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, though large hail greater than 1 inch in diameter and an isolated tornado will be possible, especially in Texas.
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.
The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”