Thunderstorms and tornadoes could affect 40 million people in the central US
Throughout the week, the Plains region has been the focus of extreme weather, and Wednesday was no different. During the day, tornado watches were issued throughout the region, and Wednesday night, a severe storm reportedly produced tornadoes in central Oklahoma, causing multiple injuries and at least one fatality, according to the Associated Press.
Those in the central United States who are not at risk from severe weather on Thursday still run the risk of flooding, rapidly spreading wildfires, and significant snowfall.
East and South residents should experience unusually warm temperatures.
What to know about the national forecast for Thursday is as follows:
tornado warning and severe storm
According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance for severe weather through Thursday night in the eastern Plains.
According to the NWS, “Strong thunderstorms will develop once more with a high potential for excessive rain rates and severe weather potential.”
According to AccuWeather, severe thunderstorms with hail, heavy rain, and tornadoes are possible from southern Wisconsin through central Texas. However, there is a slight risk for:
Lower Missouri
Nearly the entire state of Arkansas, including Little Rock, Eastern Oklahoma, Northeastern Texas, including Dallas; by late Thursday night, severe thunderstorms might approach Houston.
Through Thursday evening into Friday morning, the NWS warned that “severe winds, hail, isolated tornadoes, and sporadic incidents of flash flooding are possible across this region.”
Eastern Texas and Louisiana may experience flash flooding.
Beginning Thursday night, flash flooding is conceivable in the following locations in addition to those in the central U.S. under moderate risk of severe weather:
- Texas Eastern
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Northwest Mississippi
- Southwest Tennessee
- Eastern Arkansas
- Southwest Kentucky
- Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois
- From Thursday night through Friday night, “localized flash flooding is also a possibility in urban areas and in poor drainage locations,” AccuWeather reported.
Continued “critical” fire weather in New Mexico and other places
Red flag warnings have been in effect for New Mexico and the neighboring states all week, but there may be some good news soon: The NWS predicts that “critical” fire weather conditions will not return until Thursday.
“Behind the dryline across the Southern High Plains, strong winds and dry/hot weather continue to pose a critical fire weather risk as forecast by the (Storm Prediction Center), across much of New Mexico and the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles and adjacent regions of Colorado, southwest Kansas, and western Oklahoma,” the NWS said. “Red flag warnings are posted for a large portion of this area; any fires could spread quickly given the environment’s dryness and high winds.”
Map of red flag warnings
heavy snowfall in Minnesota and North Dakota
The NWS has issued a winter storm watch that will last through Friday morning, with the possibility of significant snowfall beginning Thursday morning through the afternoon across northern North Dakota and Minnesota.
The NWS predicted that Thursday will start out with rain and snow before turning to mostly snow Thursday night. The snow that gathers will be moist and heavy.
Map of a winter storm
East Coast temperatures rise
The East will continue to see a roller coaster of temperatures because it moved from warm weather to a “major cooldown” in less than a week. Parts of Virginia are anticipated to hit 90 degrees on Thursday as temperatures, which have been rising in the southeast, move further north.
