Multiple Areas Under Severe Weather Threats

Multiple areas of severe weather will be a concern across the nation today. 

A large area of low pressure moving through the Great Lakes will drag a cold front slowly east and southeastward across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys today into the Appalachian Mountains. Disorganized clusters of showers and thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of this front, some of which may be strong. 

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a large area of Marginal Risk, or a 1 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, across much of Arkansas into the Deep South, Tennessee and Ohio valleys, into the Appalachians, and even portions of the Mid-Atlantic states. 

Isolated wind gusts in excess of 50 mph and small hail will be possible within this area. This includes cities such as Little Rock, Ark., Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Nashville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo, N.Y.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued from portions of northeastern Alabama into northwestern South Carolina, including Rome, Athens, and Atlanta, Ga., as well as Anderson, S.C.

A smaller Slight Risk, or a 2 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, is found across southern Ohio to north-central Georgia. 

Wind gusts greater than 60 mph, large hail, and even an isolated tornado will be possible within this area, including Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn. as well as Lexington, Ky. 

Farther west, an upper-air disturbance will move across Nevada and Utah today and will help produce scattered strong to severe storms. 

As a result, a Slight Risk covers much of Utah, including Salt Lake City and Cedar City. Here, the primary threat will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph. In addition, locally heavy rainfall may lead to flooding, which has prompted Flood Watches to be issued across portions of northwestern Arizona into Utah. 

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for most of Utah, including the cities of Wendover, Cedar City, Green River, and Salt Lake City.

A third area of concern is found over portions of western Oregon into Washington. Here, a large upper-air low pressure system will slowly advance toward the Pacific Northwest and will help produce scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. 

While much of western Oregon into central Washington are under a Marginal Risk for severe weather, which includes Eugene and Portland, Ore., a small Slight Risk area is found here as well, including The Dalles, Oregon. Isolated damaging wind and hail will be the main impacts with these storms today. 

Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been issued for areas near the spine of the southern Cascades, from part of southwestern Washington through western Oregon and into northwestern California. Cities affected include Mount Shasta, Calif., and Medford, Eugene, Redmond, Salem, and Portland, Ore.

Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.

The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”