WeatherFanatics: Severe Storms to Threaten Millions From St. Louis to New Orleans on Monday

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Severe Storms to Threaten Millions From St. Louis to New Orleans on Monday

By Andy Mussoline, Meteorologist

April 27,2014; 10:20PM,EDT

A wide-reaching severe weather threat, from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast, will put millions of people in harm's way on Monday.
Damaging winds will be the most prevalent threat on Monday. This threat will include cities from St. Louis, Mo., to Louisville, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn., and New Orleans.
Some of the most violent thunderstorms in this zone will unleash large hail and even tornadoes.
"Northern Mississippi will be at the greatest risk for tornadoes on Monday," AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Storm Warning Meteorologist Justin Pullin said.
The danger zone also expands to northern Alabama and western and central Tennessee.
Typically severe weather occurs during the afternoon and evening, but this will be an all-day threat on Monday. Storms will be ongoing during the morning as they emerge from Plains.

The storms can result in long delays for both air and ground travelers. Air travelers in both St. Louis and Memphis could face the most interruptions in the region. Those traveling across Interstates 70, 64, 55 and 40 can be delayed by blinding downpours and water covered roadways.
Repeated bouts of torrential downpours can spark flash flooding. If you ever encounter a water-covered roadway, turn around and seek another route.
Damage to power lines could wipe out power to many. Be prepared by storing fresh water and non-perishable food. Make sure fresh batteries are in flashlights and severe weather radios.
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Monday's threat will evolve from a powerful storm that will spawn violent thunderstorms across the Plains through the balance of the weekend.

The storm will generate powerful winds aloft which will combine with warm and humid air at the surface to generate the violent thunderstorms.
A swarm of dangerous thunderstorms will persist into Monday night from Illinois to Louisiana ahead of a renewed severe weather threat on Tuesday.
"Severe storms will kick off again Tuesday afternoon across portions of the Southeast, especially across Mississippi and Alabama," Pullin said.
Cities that can be impacted on Tuesday will include Tupelo, Miss., Mobile and Birmingham, Ala., Chattanooga, Tenn., and even Atlanta.
A severe thunderstorm risk could linger into Wednesday and Thursday, potentially impacting areas from the mid-Atlantic to the Southeast.