Powerful storms sweep through Midwest as South braces for dangerous weather Saturday
Powerful storms swept through Missouri and other parts of the Midwest Friday night, the first phase of a dangerous, multiday severe weather outbreak set to bring tornadoes, flash flooding and damaging winds -- with the worst of the weather hitting the South on Saturday.
It's the first outbreak of this magnitude this year and is only the third time the National Weather Service has issued a high-risk warning one day ahead.
The severe weather began Midwest on Friday evening with a spate of powerful storms putting parts of the South and Midwest in the bull's-eye for strong tornadoes.
A line of powerful storms capable of producing tornadoes to the west of St. Louis and heading east was set to sweep over the city, triggering multiple tornado warnings.
Overall, The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch carrying the designation of a "particularly dangerous situation" from Tupelo, Mississippi, to Evansville, Illinois -- including Memphis and Paducah, Kentucky until 3 a.m. CT.
Several tornadoes, with a few intense tornadoes, are likely, 80mph damaging winds, and large hail all possible..
Another tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi -- including Baton Rouge and Jackson -- through 10 p.m. CT Friday. A few intense tornadoes are possible. Damaging gusts to 70 mph and large hail are also expected during the strongest storms.
Severe thunderstorm watches Friday night stretch from Des Moines to Chicago.
On Saturday, the highest threat for tornadoes moves into the Deep South, focusing on eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.
In a rare warning, the highest risk level for severe weather/tornadoes has been issued from Jackson, Mississippi, to Birmingham, Alabama, where Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency. Those in the area should brace for numerous, significant tornadoes, some of which could be long-track and potentially violent.
The most dangerous tornado threat will begin in Louisiana and Mississippi late Saturday morning and the early afternoon. The threat spreads into Alabama in the late afternoon and evening and then reaches Florida and Georgia late Saturday night.
Destructive winds up to 80 mph and large hail are also in the forecast.
The severe storms will cover a large area, spreading as far north as Atlanta and Nashville, Tennessee.
On Sunday, the severe storms will be weaker as they target the East Coast from Florida to Pennsylvania.
The tornado threat will be focused on the Carolinas and Georgia in the afternoon.
Storms with the potential for damaging winds will reach the Northeast by the evening and last through early Monday morning.
