Severe Weather Threat Returns Easter Sunday and Later Next Week (FORECAST)

Quincy Vagell
Published: March 26,2016
The threat for strong to severe thunderstorms returns for Easter Sunday as a cold front sweeps across the country. Then, a potentially more significant severe weather event may take shape across the central and southeastern United States by mid-week.
It's been an active 2016 for severe weather, so far, and the last thing storm-weary folks in the Lower Mississippi Valley want to see is more severe thunderstorms or flooding rainfall.
(MORE: Historic March Flooding in the South)
Upcoming storm systems on Sunday and then around the Tuesday to Thursday time-frame are worth watching.
Below is a look at the current expectation for the severe weather threats ahead.

Severe Weather Forecast

Easter Sunday

• A cold front moves east from the Mississippi Valley toward the Appalachians.
• Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected from the Gulf Coast, northward to the Ohio Valley.
• A few severe thunderstorms are possible from the Deep South into the Ohio Valley.
• Damaging winds appear to be the greatest threat, but some hail will also be possible.
• Low level wind shear is not ideal for tornadoes, but the tornado threat is non-zero.
• Cities: New Orleans | Jackson, Mississippi | Nashville, Tennessee | Birmingham

Sunday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Tuesday

• A new storm system begins to take shape over the Rockies.
• Organized severe weather seems unlikely, but thunderstorms could fire along a dryline in the Plains from Nebraska to Texas.
• Any storms that can initiate would pose a hail risk.

A classic severe weather setup may develop later next week.

Wednesday-Thursday

• Low pressure organizes and pivots from the Plains toward the Upper Midwest.
• A classic severe weather setup may develop during this time-frame.
• Wednesday's threat is from the southern Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley.
• On Thursday, severe weather may be possible from the Gulf Coast, northward to the Ohio Valley.
• In addition, multiple clusters of thunderstorms in the Lower Mississippi Valley may pose a risk of flash flooding, falling on ground still saturated (or flooded) from the early-March flood event.

(FORECAST: 7-Day Rain/Snow Maps)
Uncertainty remains with details on timing and placement of any substantial severe weather threat later next week. Nonetheless, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes may be possible.
Continue to check back for more updates in the coming days.

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MORE: Early March 2016 Flooding, Severe Weather (PHOTOS)