At least 80 million people − from the Midwest to the South to the East − were in the path of turbulent weather that threatened violent storms, large hail and potent tornadoes Sunday into Monday.
“Numerous severe thunderstorms are expected today and tonight across a broad portion of the Southeast and lower/mid Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes,” NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center said Sunday.
Destructive winds were “likely,” the center said. “Several tornadoes will also occur with supercells. A few of these tornadoes could be strong.”
Accuweather meteorologists warned that more than a dozen tornadoes were possible Sunday afternoon and Sunday night, targeting cities such as Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; Evansville and Bloomington, Indiana.
Some of the areas in the crosshairs this week are the same ones lashed by a series of tornadoes and storms two weeks ago that left more than 40 people dead. Over a two-day tornado outbreak, the National Weather service issued more than 300 storm warnings. Three tornadoes were confirmed as EF4 strength, according to AccuWeather. Three EF3 tornadoes also were surveyed in Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri.
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Strong winds already swirling Sunday
A wind gust of 85 mph that led to damaged roofs and downed trees was recorded in Baxter Springs, Kansas, early Sunday, Weather.com reported. In Joplin, Missouri, a gust of 79 mph was measured, and hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter fell near Bridge Creek and Amber, Oklahoma, the service said.
Where will the storms head Monday?
The storms were expected to target the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Monday from Jacksonville, Florida, to Raleigh, North Carolina, to Albany, New York, according to forecasters.
“Monday’s severe weather will affect the very busy Interstate 81, 85 and 95 corridors from New Orleans to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City,” Accuweather said.
Monday’s highest risk of tornadoes covered an area from southern Alabama into Virginia, Weather.com said.
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What is the forecast for the rest of the week?
The tumultuous weather shows no signs of calming down: More strong storms could stretch from the Central U.S. to the East Coast midweek, forecasters said.
“As the spring weather pattern continues with a tug-of-war between warm and humid air from the Gulf and chilly winds from Canada, additional rounds of severe weather will follow,” Accuweather said.
