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As the calendar flips to April this week, the Midwest will witness quite the weather show as numerous robust thunderstorms sweep across the region.
Both today and Tuesday have been highlighted for additional threats across the central and eastern U.S. A potent low pressure system will begin to develop along a stalled front over the Midwest today, leading to widespread thunderstorm activity as the system shifts eastward.
Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been issued for portions of eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, and central Indiana. Additionally, Tornado Watches has been issued for central Oklahoma, central and southeastern Missouri and central Illinois.
The government's Storm Prediction Center has placed an Enhanced Risk (rated 3 out of 5 on the severe weather scale) for severe weather that extends from the rest of north-central Texas, most of the remaining portion of Oklahoma and eastern Kansas into northwestern Arkansas, most of Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky. Cities within this risk includes Dallas, Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Springfield, Ill., Evansville, Ind., and Louisville, Ky. Here, very large hail to the size of golf balls or larger, destructive winds and potentially a few tornadoes.
However, anyone from central Texas to southern Ohio and western West Virginia will need to keep a close eye on darkening skies. Within this area, potent thunderstorms could produce wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph, hail and a brief tornado.
After Sunday and Monday, Tuesday will be the third day of severe weather threats as this system begins to become better organized over the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Another area of a Moderate Risk will be in place, this time over most of Ohio and the outerskirts of eastern Indiana, northern Kentucky, and western West Virginia. The environment here will be primed for a substantial severe weather outbreak with large hail, damaging winds, and possibly including a few significant/long-track tornadoes. Cities affected include Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Canton, and Springfield, Ohio.
An Enhanced Risk will also be in place on Tuesday, this time over most of Kentucky and West Virginia through northeastern Mississippi and northern Alabama. The threats will remain similar to the previous day including high winds, tornadoes, and hail for cities such as Nashville, Tenn., Charleston and Huntington, W.Va., Pittsburgh Pa., and Akron, Ohio.
A Slight Risk includes an area from the Mississippi River to the Appalachians and from northern Indiana and northwestern Pennsylvania to the western Florida panhandle. These areas could still see dangerous thunderstorm activity as they begin to strengthen in the early afternoon, then weaken over the mountains for the evening hours. Major cities affected include Indianapolis I.N., Charlotte N.C., Cleveland, Toledo O.H., and Atlanta Ga.
Rounds of thunderstorms will also be capable of producing repeated waves of heavy rain across parts of the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians. A Flood Watch is in effect between central Illinois and western Maryland. Cities including Lincoln and Decatur, Illinois, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, Huntington, Charleston, and Morgantown, W. Va., could see localized rain amounts between 1 and 3 inches between tonight and Tuesday evening.
The best thing to do is to stay prepared and weather-aware, starting with knowing the difference between a watch and a warning should they be issued this week. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, and you need to have a plan in place for acting. However, a warning means that severe weather has been indicated and/or imminent, and you need to act fast to remain safe. When in doubt remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”