Welcome to today’s Daily Weather Update brought to you by FOX Weather. Today is Thursday, March 13, 2025. Stay informed with all the essential weather details you need for the day ahead. For additional updates on national, regional, and local weather, tune in to the FOX Weather Update podcast anytime you wish.
As per the latest report from the FOX Forecast Center, a significant outbreak of dangerous severe storms is anticipated on Friday afternoon and potentially continuing into the night as a strong storm system intensifies across the central United States. Approximately 70 million individuals are facing the risk of severe weather from Friday through Friday night. Various hazards are possible, including powerful winds and potential tornadoes, some of which could form later in the evening and overnight. The tornado threat covers a vast area of over 1,000 miles.
A population exceeding 6.5 million residing in parts of southeastern Iowa, central and southern Illinois, and eastern Missouri – including St. Louis – are under a level 4 out of 5 risk on the Storm Prediction Center’s severe thunderstorm risk scale issued by NOAA.
This prolonged threat extends into the weekend, with Saturday’s risk level being the highest forecasted by the SPC in advance over the past three years. The graphic represents the severe weather threat expected on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
On Wednesday, San Francisco and Los Angeles experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall from an ongoing atmospheric river. Flash Flood Warnings were in place on Thursday morning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with reports of around 21,000 customers facing power outages overnight. Additional evacuations were ordered in areas previously affected by wildfires due to the risk of mudslides. Schools near the Palisades Fire site in Malibu were closed.
The rainfall is expected to diminish Thursday morning as the storm system moves towards the Rockies, contributing to the heightened severe weather risk by Friday. There is a growing potential for a significant windstorm event as a coast-to-coast storm approaches the northern Plains and Midwest starting Friday evening. This could include the formation of a derecho, a widespread and long-lasting windstorm that may lead to extensive power outages. The strong winds will also bring blowing snow, resulting in near-blizzard conditions. Regions at highest risk include the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Minnesota.
In a frightening incident in Central Florida on Monday, Jeanismar Rangel found herself in danger during a tornado while inside her vehicle in Longwood, a suburb of Orlando. Rangel captured the intense rain and wind causing debris to swirl around her. The National Weather Service classified the tornado as an Ef-2, with no major injuries reported.
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