A powerful storm is expected to form just east of the Rockies in the middle of the week. AccuWeather meteorologists are predicting a significant outbreak of severe weather, including possible tornadoes, on Friday and Saturday in the region spanning from the Great Plains to the Mississippi Valley. If the storm reaches its full potential, it could be one of the strongest recorded in terms of low pressure in that area. A more intense storm will provide more energy for severe weather, heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. Even a moderate storm in mid-March could bring a prolonged threat of severe weather, including tornadoes.
Ahead of the main storm system, isolated severe thunderstorms may develop on Wednesday in the south-central United States. More powerful thunderstorms are expected in western and central Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday and Thursday night. Friday is anticipated to be the most significant day for severe weather, affecting a vast area of around 500,000 square miles in the Central states.
AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting a widespread risk of severe thunderstorms on Friday from the Gulf Coast to the Canada border, covering states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, and Illinois are expected to experience numerous severe thunderstorms with high winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall on Friday.
The storm system’s strong winds, even without thunderstorm activity, could lead to widespread power outages across more than 1 million square miles on Friday. Dry conditions could heighten the risk of wildfires in areas with strong winds. Saturday will see the storms moving into warmer regions, potentially bringing the warmest conditions since last fall. Severe weather threats could extend from the central Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes region, with southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, the Florida Panhandle, and western Georgia facing the highest risk.
Similar to Friday, damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain will pose the greatest threats on Saturday. There is a chance that thunderstorms may slow down, increasing the risk of flash flooding near the southern Appalachians and parts of the Tennessee Valley. On Sunday, the risk of severe weather will likely persist in certain areas.
Thunderstorms are likely to intensify and move rapidly towards the Atlantic coast, potentially bringing a significant tornado threat on both Friday and Saturday. The occurrence and strength of tornadoes will be influenced by the development of discrete, isolated storms capable of rotation. These supercell thunderstorms are known to produce some of the most powerful tornadoes. Factors such as sunshine and daytime heating will play a key role in the formation of these severe storms, although cloud cover may limit warming in some areas.
The danger of severe weather and tornadoes will persist beyond daylight hours, with storms expected to continue well into the night. Even in the absence of supercell thunderstorms, tornadoes could still be embedded within a line of thunderstorms producing strong winds and heavy rainfall.
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