Atlanta, Georgia – A severe weather outbreak is predicted to hit the Midwest, South, and East starting on Friday and lasting through the weekend, with expected severe thunderstorms posing a significant threat.
The NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a level 4 out of 5 risk of severe weather for Friday and Saturday in parts of the Midwest and South, indicating the likelihood of widespread severe storms. Such high threat levels are uncommon and are usually reserved for situations where supercells could produce strong tornadoes or squall lines could result in extensive damaging winds. It is crucial for residents in the affected areas to take this threat seriously, pre-plan their safe shelter location, and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, especially since severe storms might occur at night.
The first day of the severe weather outbreak, Friday into Friday night, will primarily affect the Mississippi Valley, as well as portions of the lower Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Major cities like St. Louis, Paducah, Memphis, and Tupelo are at high risk for severe storms. The severe weather is expected to start in the late afternoon in the western regions and spread eastward through the evening and overnight hours.
Saturday through Saturday night, the Deep South will face the highest risk of severe storms, including areas in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle. Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Chattanooga, Jackson, and New Orleans are among the cities at risk. Severe storms could extend as far north as Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
On Sunday, as the weekend ends, the mid-Atlantic states and the Southeast may experience additional severe storms as the cold front moves through. Cities like Charleston, Raleigh, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. could be impacted. Damaging wind gusts are the main concern, with a possibility of isolated tornadoes and localized flash flooding.
The setup for this severe weather outbreak follows a typical pattern for March and spring, with a sharp southward dip of the jet stream bringing energy from the West to the central and eastern states. This energy, combined with moisture drawn north from the Gulf, creates conditions for the formation of numerous thunderstorms, some of which could become severe with the potential for tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail.