Severe weather forecast warns of potential catastrophic flooding in Oklahoma, with similar threats expanding from Texas to Vermont.
It's kicking off again in the central and eastern United States! Over 50 million peeps are bracing themselves for another round of severe thunderstorms, with the potential for life-threatening, catastrophic flooding starting on Tuesday. Monday's storms were a nasty reminder of what's to come, as they blasted through with damaging wind gusts, hail bigger than baseballs, and twisters.
Tuesday morning saw multiple states under severe thunderstorm warnings, plus a flash flood warning slapped on Oklahoma City. More of the same is on the horizon across the nation. A massive 1,800-mile swath of the US - from West Texas to Vermont - is now under a level 2-of-5 risk of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Level 3 risks have been singled out for parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as Texas and Oklahoma.
Rounds of storms will roll through the Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley on Tuesday. The first wave took off Tuesday morning, impacting areas from northern Texas to southern Kansas and then making its way into Missouri. A powerful line of storms dashed through southwestern Missouri, upending Springfield with wind gusts of up to 90 mph and spawning a few brief tornadoes. The wreckage includes fallen trees, downed power lines, and more than 40,000 homes and businesses szippered of power as of Tuesday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.
The afternoon saw another round of storms in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, while another area of thunderstorms packed wind gusts of up to 70 mph in Indiana and Ohio. The day ain't over yet, and additional strong to severe storms could strike throughout the day, with the strongest storms possible by evening in the Southern Plains.
Be ready for big hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes in this area. They could also drop buckets of heavy rain, elevating the risk of life-threatening flooding. A level 3-of-4 risk of flooding rain is in place for parts of northern Texas and much of Oklahoma - including Oklahoma City and Tulsa - according to the Weather Prediction Center. The region is primed for widespread flash flooding in some instances, with the potential for local catastrophic flooding in southwest Oklahoma, the National Weather Service warned.
Severe thunderstorms aren't just brewing in the South. Storms in the Northeast on Tuesday are also up for grabs, with damaging wind gusts and large, egg-sized hail in the mix. Stay on your toes, people!
Stormy weather and periods of heavy rain will linger through Wednesday, with a level 3-of-4 risk of flooding rainfall in place for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. Just a few severe thunderstorms are possible in the Southern Plains on Wednesday, but widespread chances of damaging storms fade for the rest of the week. Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
In case you were wondering, the patterns of late March to early April gave us a taste of what we're facing right now: damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, ice storms, and historic rainfall. April 2 saw a rare Level 5/5 high-risk rating for severe weather. As for what's ahead, keep an eye on these spaces for real-time NWS updates, as severe weather patterns can evolve rapidly.
Starting on Wednesday, Missouri is likely to encounter more storms, elevating the risk of life-threatening flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has designated a level 3-of-4 risk of flooding rain for parts of Missouri. Furthermore, the southern plains may experience a few additional severe thunderstorms, posing risks of big hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Stay tuned for real-time updates from the National Weather Service, as severe weather patterns can evolve rapidly.
