Another Severe Weather Outbreak Forecast Across Midwest and South With Threat of Strong Tornadoes

Severe weather threat returns across the central United States

Another outbreak of severe weather is forecast to sweep across large parts of the United States, bringing the threat of strong tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. The developing storm pattern will affect areas of the South, Midwest, and East through Wednesday.

Many communities are still recovering from destructive storms that struck late last week. During that earlier outbreak, the National Weather Service confirmed more than 20 tornadoes across the country, stretching from Texas, United States to Michigan, United States.

Among those storms were four deadly tornadoes. Two occurred in Michigan and two in Oklahoma, leaving multiple communities dealing with damage and loss.

Tuesday storms could bring strong tornadoes

Meteorologists expect the greatest severe weather threat Tuesday afternoon and evening across parts of Texas and the Midwest.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued an enhanced risk of severe storms, categorized as level 3 out of 5, across a corridor stretching from northern Missouri to northern Indiana. A second enhanced risk area covers parts of western and northern Texas.

Storms developing across the Southern Plains could rapidly intensify during the afternoon hours. Forecasts indicate that severe thunderstorms may produce:

• Large hail exceeding golf ball size
• Wind gusts above 75 mph
• Tornadoes, some possibly EF2 or stronger

One of the areas under close watch is the Dallas Fort Worth metropolitan area, Texas, United States, where supercell thunderstorms could form as atmospheric instability increases.

By early evening, storms are expected to expand into the Mississippi Valley and the western Great Lakes region. Cities including Chicago, IL, United States and Detroit, MI, United States fall within the zone where severe storms could develop.

Forecasters say tornadoes, large hail exceeding two inches in diameter, and damaging winds will all be possible in these regions.

Severe storms likely to continue overnight

The severe weather threat is expected to continue overnight in several regions.

Thunderstorms may persist from the western Great Lakes southward into Texas as the storm system moves eastward. In addition to the tornado threat, the storms may produce periods of heavy rainfall capable of causing localized flooding.

The severe pattern reflects the interaction between warm and humid air moving northward and cooler air associated with a cold front pushing across the region. This contrast creates the instability required for powerful thunderstorms.

Wednesday brings damaging wind threat farther east

On Wednesday morning, thunderstorms may already be underway across a broad corridor stretching from the eastern Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley and Mississippi Valley to eastern Texas.

The primary severe weather threat on Wednesday is expected to shift eastward. Meteorologists say the greatest concern will be damaging thunderstorm wind gusts affecting areas from the Appalachian region to the lower Mississippi Valley.

Tornadoes remain possible as well. Forecasts indicate that at least a few tornadoes could develop, including the possibility of a stronger tornado rated EF2 or higher in parts of the upper Ohio Valley and the lower Mississippi Valley.

Storms may continue through Wednesday night across the Southeast, including regions extending from the southern Appalachian Mountains to the northern Gulf Coast.

Heavy rainfall may trigger flash flooding

Alongside tornadoes and damaging winds, the storm system is expected to produce periods of heavy rainfall across multiple states.

Many of the areas now under threat already received significant rainfall during last week’s storms. As a result, the soil remains saturated in several locations.

Additional rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible across portions of the affected region. Localized totals could be higher where slow moving storms repeatedly track across the same area for several hours.

Under these conditions, meteorologists warn that localized flash flooding may develop in vulnerable areas.

Recent storms leave damage and fatalities

The renewed severe weather threat comes just days after a deadly outbreak across the Midwest and Southern Plains.

At least eight people were killed as storms moved from Oklahoma into Michigan. One of the hardest hit communities was Beggs, OK, United States, located roughly 30 miles southwest of Tulsa.

A tornado struck the rural area Friday night, killing two people and injuring others. Emergency crews worked through the night in difficult weather conditions that included lightning, hail, and heavy rain.

Across the region, aerial footage revealed widespread damage. Roofs were torn from homes, debris fields stretched across farmland, and trees were uprooted and thrown onto roads and buildings.

Residents and emergency teams continue clearing debris and repairing damaged structures as the region prepares for the next round of severe storms.