Severe Weather Outbreak Targets Ohio, Tennessee Valleys

After two days of severe weather, a severe weather outbreak looks to target most of the Eastern U.S. today. The greatest area of concern will occur in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
 
A potent low pressure system will move from the Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes today. South and east of this system, plenty of very warm, moist air will interact with a cold front and will lead to widespread thunderstorm activity.
 
Tornado Watches are in effect currently, which stretch across parts of Alabama and eastern Tennesee as well as much of western Georgia.
 
The government's Storm Prediction Center has placed a Moderate Risk (rated 4 out of 5 on the severe weather scale) for severe weather across parts of eastern Ohio, central and eastern Kentucky as well as a large swath of Alabama and western Georgia. Here, very large hail to the size of golf balls or larger, destructive winds of 60 to 70 mph or more, and several tornadoes will be likely.
 
Severe weather will continue into Wednesday, as a cold front will sweep through the area to start out the day. A Slight Risk extends from central Florida through southeast Virginia, where damaging winds, small hail, and tornadoes look to be the primary threats from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
 
In addition to the storms, rounds of heavy rainfall across the Ohio Valley into the central Appalachian Mountains and Mid-Atlantic may cause some flooding. Flood Watches are in effect across southern Ohio, much of West Virginia, most of Maryland, New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania, southern and western New York and northern Virginia. One to as much as 3 inches of rainfall will be possible.
 
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!”