Meteorologists at AccuWeather are predicting severe weather conditions, including tornadoes, that will impact over two dozen states from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast between Saturday and Monday. An estimated 20 million people are at risk on Saturday, with that number increasing to at least 80 million in the central United States on Sunday, followed by the Eastern region on Monday. The severe weather threat is expected to intensify on Saturday evening and Sunday in the central states, and then spread to the East on Monday.
A recent incident in Tylertown, Mississippi, where a grove of pine trees was destroyed, serves as a reminder of the potential dangers.
Saturday night will see severe weather affecting major cities in the Great Plains, such as Dallas, Oklahoma City, Topeka, Kansas City, and Des Moines. Various severe weather conditions, including damaging hail, high winds, and tornadoes, are anticipated during this time.
On Sunday, the severe weather threat will shift eastward, affecting states from Texas to Michigan. The Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Tennessee Valley are expected to experience severe thunderstorms, potentially leading to hail, tornadoes, strong winds, and flash flooding.
Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno has stated that a dozen or more tornadoes could be expected on Sunday. The intensity of the storms will largely depend on the speed at which low clouds dissipate, allowing for increased daytime heating and storm development.
The storm system responsible for recent rain and flooding in Texas will move through the region on Saturday, bringing thunderstorms and flash flooding. Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, are likely to continue into Saturday night and Sunday night, posing additional risks.
Monday will see a further escalation of storms due to daytime heating, affecting areas from the Appalachians to the Atlantic coast and northeast Gulf coast. The main threats on Monday will be damaging wind gusts, hail, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding along the Interstate 81, 85, and 95 corridors.
The potential for severe weather exists for parts of southern and eastern New England, including New York City. While cooler Atlantic waters may provide some protection in certain areas, locations like Boston could still face heavy downpours and strong winds on Monday night. Airline travelers might encounter flight disruptions such as cancellations or delays due to ground stops or aircraft being held back as storms approach airports.
Looking ahead to next week, the clash between warm, humid air from the Gulf and cold winds from Canada will set the stage for more severe weather. On Wednesday, a significant threat of severe weather, including possible tornadoes and flash flooding, is expected in the central parts of the country. This storm system is forecasted to move eastward, bringing severe thunderstorms and an increased risk of flooding to eastern areas on Thursday.
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