Severe Thunderstorm Threat, Including Tornadoes, Sweeps Into South Saturday

Jonathan Belles
Published: March 25,2017
Severe thunderstorms, including the threat of tornadoes, will develop across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and slide east into parts of the South through Saturday.
The environment may be favorable overnight into Saturday for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms including damaging wind and hail.

Current Radar with Watches, Warnings

The ingredients for this multi-day severe threat are coming together as an energetic upper-level system swings from the Southwest into the Plains states.
Strong winds at jet stream level are out of the southwest and will contribute to the strong wind shear – change in wind speed and direction with height – needed to help sustain supercell thunderstorms.
(MORE: Tornado Central)
At the surface, a strong area of low pressure is expected to push eastward through the central Plains, which will then slide into the Midwest by Saturday.

Moisture will surge northward into the Plains, creating a buoyant environment for storms to take root in and grow vertically. Dew points in the 50s and 60s should be supportive of severe storm development on Friday.
(MORE: Where to Expect Tornadoes in March)

Timing

Saturday

• The cold front will slide across the Mississippi River into the Ohio Valley and South with showers and thunderstorms.
• Severe storms are possible in parts of the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley into parts of the Deep South and possibly portions of the Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley.
• Damaging winds, large hail, heavy rain and perhaps a tornado are the primary threats.

Thunderstorm Forecast For Saturday

Another round of severe storms is possible on Sunday and Monday in parts of the Plains and South. For more on that story, see the link below.
(MORE: Numerous Severe Weather Threats Likely to End March Like a Lion)

Storm Reports

On Thursday, a wind gust of 81 mph was recorded at the Ulysses Airport in western Kansas and a gust of 70 mph was reported at the Grand Island Airport in Nebraska. Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was observed as far north as Westgate, Iowa while golf-ball size hail was observed in Midland, Texas.

MORE: Tornadoes in the Midwest, March 6, 2017

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.