Mother Nature will continue to unleash rounds of severe thunderstorms and flooding rainfall into the weekend.
A nearly stalled frontal boundary will remain stretched from the southern Plains into the Mid-Atlantic over the next several days. Waves of weather disturbances will traverse this front and will help fuel rounds of heavy rain and locally severe thunderstorms.
Today, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk stretching from northern and central Texas to northern Virginia, Maryland, and south-central Pennsylvania. This includes cities such as Dallas, Nashville, Tenn., Washington, and Baltimore. An Enhanced Risk is also found across western Tennessee to northeastern Texas, including Little Rock, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn.
Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible with the severe thunderstorms this afternoon into tonight. In particular, a few stronger tornadoes and very large hail will be possible across northern Texas to western Tennessee. Stacking flooding and severe weather damages over these next few days could leave communities particularly vulnerable to damage and destruction.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect across portions of northern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, central Tennessee, and Kentucky. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect across portions of southeastern Ohio, northeastern Kentucky, and western West Virginia, as well as across north-central Texas.
Many of these same areas will be under the gun for additional severe thunderstorms on Friday. A Slight Risk is already in place across central and northern Texas to southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky. This includes San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas, Texas, and St. Louis and Evansville, Ind.
Within this risk area, a small Enhanced Risk is also found across northeastern Texas and much of Arkansas, including Little Rock. This is where the greatest threat for very large hail and a few tornadoes will exist.
Saturday will see the focus of severe weather shift a bit to the south and east as the front finally becomes dislodged as a strong area of low pressure develops over the southern Plains and moves into the Tennessee Valley. A Slight Risk stretches from eastern Texas to northwestern Alabama to southwestern Ohio. An Enhanced Risk is also found across extreme eastern Texas, much of Louisiana, western Mississippi, and southern Arkansas.
In addition to the severe thunderstorms, rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall will occur each day and will result in localized flooding. Flood Watches remain in place from northeastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma northeastward into Ohio, where 3 to 6 inches of rain is expected over the next few days. Localized rain amounts of over 10 inches will be possible! Remember, if you approach a roadway covered in water, it is best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
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!”
