Heavy, gusty storms to threaten Louisiana to Kentucky into Tuesday night

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

March 1,2016; 8:17PM,EST

 

 

A storm system tracking across the Midwest will trigger thunderstorms capable of producing locally damaging winds and flash flooding over the lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys into Tuesday night.
Thunderstorms that first initiated over Oklahoma during Monday night began to develop into a squall line during Tuesday morning.

Strong Storms Target the Deep South

A squall line is a continuous band of thunderstorms that can produce damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and hail. Brief tornadoes are also possible along the leading edge of this line.
"As is typical with many of these winter storms, the push of cold air clashing with the warm air in place will lead to a line of thunderstorms along the system's cold front," AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey explained.

"Due to marginal conditions, we are not seeing the line of storms strengthen significantly," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "As a result only highly localized severe weather is likely for the duration into Tuesday night.
By Tuesday evening, the line threat will shift into New Orleans; Knoxville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and Huntington, West Virginia.
While these storms will move through areas that were devastated by severe thunderstorms last week, it is highly unlikely that they will match the same intensity and magnitude.
Motorists should be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions should they encounter the squall line. Torrential downpours will lead to reduced visibility and excess water on roadways.
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As Tuesday night progresses, the storms will likely lose some of their punch once they reach Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains.
Regardless, flash flooding and gusty winds will remain a concern until the storms exit the Piedmont areas and the southern Atlantic Seaboard on Wednesday morning.
Behind this front, a brief spell of quieter and cooler weather is expected across the region before another round of rain and thunderstorms at late week.