Severe Weather Outbreak Widespread in 20 States, Multiple Tornadoes Possible

As a widespread severe weather outbreak is anticipated to affect 20 states, multiple tornadoes may occur.

Barely a week after a deadly tornado outbreak tore across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia last Friday night and into the weekend, a widespread severe weather outbreak with strong tornadoes, destructive winds, and large hail are expected Friday in the Midwest and South as March draws to a close.

Earlier this week bomb cyclone that brought more rain, snow, and wind to California seems to have jumpstarted the current severe weather. The storm that hit the West Coast was caused by an upper-level jet stream disturbance that is now progressing into the central US.

Another Severe Weather Outbreak

This disturbance in the jet stream will intensify the surface low pressure as it moves into the Plains, which will force warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico to move north.

The atmosphere will be primed for another severe weather outbreak due to the instability brought on by that warm, humid air and a lot of wind shear.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, a few isolated strong storms that can progress to severe storms are possible from extreme southeast Kansas into Oklahoma, far northern Texas, western Arkansas, and southwestern Missouri. The main threats to the said areas include large hail accompanied by damaging wind gusts. Experts say that an isolated tornado event is not entirely out of the picture.

Further north, where hail will be the main issue, a few strong storms that can develop into severe storms are also possible in central and northeastern Nebraska, northwestern Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, and southeastern South Dakota.

Widespread in 20 States

From Friday afternoon into the early hours of Saturday, strong and numerous severe thunderstorms are predicted across parts of the mid-Mississippi Valley, the mid-South, and eastward into the areas in lower Ohio and Tennessee valleys.

Eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, far northeastern Missouri, the Missouri Bootheel, West Tennessee, extreme western Kentucky, and far northwestern Mississippi are among the northern and southern regions with the highest threats of severe weather.

AccuWeather estimates a total of 65 million people will be affected by the intense weather.

Multiple Tornadoes

On Friday, dangerous severe weather is expected to threaten several cities, including Paducah, Kentucky; Little Rock, Arkansas; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and Nashville, Tennessee.

Sadly, there is a chance of severe weather on Friday in some of the same southern locations that were affected by the deadly tornado outbreak just a week ago.

Any thunderstorms would hinder ongoing recovery efforts even if these areas avoided the worst of the severe weather. For example, several days ago, a storm chaser that tracked a recent tornado in Mississippi promised to take part in rebuilding a house damaged by the very same tornado, according to People.

Also Read: Weather Forecast: Severe Weather Risks From Cold Front Expected in Southern Wisconsin, Tornadoes Possible 

Storms will Stay Until Saturday

From portions of eastern Ohio into western New York, a few isolated strong to severe thunderstorms may produce damaging wind gusts on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Parts of southeast and east Carolina might be slammed with strong severe storms with tornadoes and damaging wind gusts in tow through Saturday afternoon.

As a potent low-pressure system races across the eastern US, high winds are also possible in regions of the Midwest and East that don't typically experience severe weather, FOX Weather reports.

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