“April’s Storms Pose Tornado Threat Across the Nation”
April is starting with the potential for severe storms across the Plains, Midwest, and South, bringing the risk of tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. Additionally, heavy rainfall could lead to significant flooding in parts of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys from Wednesday through the weekend.
Severe Weather Outlook for Tuesday and Tuesday Night:
Severe storms are expected to develop in the evening and overnight from northern Texas to parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. Cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines could be affected by large hail and strong winds. The threat of severe weather could extend from Nebraska and Kansas to Iowa, while areas in southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas may experience supercell thunderstorms with the potential for hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes overnight.
Severe Weather Forecast for Wednesday and Wednesday Night:
Widespread severe storms are forecast from the Great Lakes to northeast Texas, including cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Little Rock, and Memphis. Strong to severe storms are expected in the morning in the Midwest, intensifying and bringing damaging winds and a tornado threat to the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley during the day. In the afternoon and evening, supercell thunderstorms could develop from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the ArkLaTex, with the potential for strong tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. The threat of severe weather will continue overnight in the Tennessee and Ohio valleys.
Continued Severe Weather Threat:
The threat of severe weather may persist in the South and Ohio Valley from Thursday to Saturday, although specifics are uncertain.
Life-Threatening Flooding Expected:
A stalled cold front and Gulf moisture will bring a multiday flood threat from northeast Texas to the Mississippi and Ohio valleys starting Wednesday. Cities like Little Rock, Memphis, Paducah, Louisville, and Cincinnati could see over six inches of rain, with some areas possibly reaching up to 15 inches. Flash flooding and river flooding are likely, so it’s important to avoid driving through flooded roads.
It only takes approximately 1 foot of water to cause a car or small SUV to float. Once your vehicle is floating, you lose control, and the road beneath the floodwaters may be washed away. If you reside in a flood-prone area, stay vigilant for the most recent National Weather Service flood watches and warnings, and know the location of higher ground in case of necessity. Follow the instructions of local authorities if evacuation is mandated. Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for almost 15 years, starting his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
