Severe weather conditions are set to affect parts of the Plains, Midwest, and South throughout the week, with heightened risks of tornadoes, damaging hail, and strong winds expected until Tuesday.
The NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued numerous tornado watches covering regions from Oklahoma and Arkansas to Nebraska and Iowa as severe thunderstorms roll across the Plains, with reports of hail ranging from quarter to half dollar size noted in parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The most significant threat is anticipated in northern Texas, central and eastern Oklahoma, Kansas, northwest Arkansas, and much of Missouri. Major cities at risk include Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, Fort Smith, and Kansas City, facing the possibility of tornadoes with EF2 to EF3 damage potential. Additionally, heavy rainfall poses a risk of flash flooding.
As the week progresses, the storm threat will migrate eastward, affecting the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys, especially southwest Kentucky to central Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northern Alabama. Initial supercell thunderstorms may bring strong tornadoes, but wind damage is expected to become the primary concern as storm systems develop into lines or clusters.
This recent severe weather pattern commenced in the Great Lakes and Midwest last Thursday, culminating in over 90 tornado reports through Sunday. Noteworthy incidents included an EF2 tornado in northwest Wisconsin, an EF3 in St. Louis, an EF4 in Marion, Illinois, and intense EF3 damage in the London, Kentucky region.
Given these developments, residents in affected areas should stay vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions, especially in light of the challenges posed by severe storms. Tracking updates through reliable weather sources is essential for community safety.