Weekend Severe Weather Hits Central, Southern U.S.
The risk for severe thunderstorms will envelop portions of the central and southern U.S. this weekend.
A developing low pressure system over the Plains will help draw plenty of warm and humid air northward this weekend. This air mass will clash with a cooler and drier air mass sinking southward over the Plains and Mississippi Valley, resulting in strong to severe thunderstorms from later this evening through Sunday.
Thunderstorms are expected to develop on the leading edge of the warmer and more humid air mass this evening across portions of northeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, and Missouri. Here, the government’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk, or a 1 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, for this evening and tonight. A more extreme Slight Risk, a 2 out of 5, is focused over far southwestern Missouri and extreme northern Arkansas, bringing a slightly increased chance for large hail and tornadoes.
While an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the main impacts from these storms will be locally damaging wind gusts and large hail. Cities at risk to see severe weather include Topeka, Kan. along with Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., with cities under the Slight Risk area including Springfield and Joplin, Mo., along with Bentonville, Ark.
As this storm system continues to intensify and moves into the Great Lakes on Sunday, it will send a cold front southward across portions of the Tennessee Valley, Deep South, Lower Mississippi Valley, and eastern Texas. Here, a Slight Risk, or a 2 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, is in place for Sunday.
Damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible within thunderstorms on Sunday. Some cities at risk include Memphis, Tenn., Oxford, Miss., Pine Bluff, Ark., Shreveport, La., and Tyler, 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!”
