AccuWeather.com

By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist

May 23, 2011; 3:20 PM ET

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"The greatest threat of tornadic activity Tuesday lies from Oklahoma City to Wichita..."

After severe thunderstorms and tornadoes damaged parts of the southern Plains over the weekend, another round of devastating tornadoes is on the way for Tuesday.

Major Tornado Outbreak Tuesday

AccuWeather.com Meteorologists are forecasting that there will be at least 50 tornado reports on Tuesday, many of them across the eastern half of Oklahoma and eastern Kansas.

The greatest threat of tornadic activity on Tuesday lies in the corridor from Oklahoma City, Okla., to Wichita, Kan., to already hard-hit Joplin, Mo.

This includes the cities of Dallas, Tex., Topeka, Kan., and Tulsa, Okla.

These locations have the potential for long-lived and long track tornadoes, hail to the size of baseballs and flash flooding from thunderstorms that develop.

A strong low pressure system coming out from the Rockies will strengthen across the southern Plains Tuesday, creating ideal conditions for dangerous storms and potential tornadoes.

Thunderstorms will first erupt during the afternoon hours on Tuesday across central Kansas, central Oklahoma, and north-central Texas. These thunderstorms will quickly turn severe, producing large hail and potentially devastating tornadoes.

These storms will then track eastward late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night bringing the threat for destructive tornadoes into the Middle Mississippi River Valley for the nighttime hours.

Residents should be advised that tornadoes that occur at night are the most dangerous due to the simple fact that most people are asleep. Persons are urged to keep tuned to local media outlets during this severe weather outbreak and have a plan of action prepared should severe weather strike.

Severe Weather Extends into the East

Just as is happening today, the severe weather threat will also be present farther east through the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic states.

Residents from Paducah, Ky., through Charleston, W.Va., to Washington, D.C., will have to be on the lookout for rapidly changing weather conditions on Tuesday.

Over the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley, the greatest threats will be large hail and damaging wind gusts. However, an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out that far east.

As with most severe weather, the greatest coverage of thunderstorms will occur during the afternoon and evening hours as the daytime heating causes the air to rise rapidly.

Anyone in these areas should expect travel delays, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Be prepared for any detours or delays around any damage that may occur.

Check back with AccuWeather.com throughout the next few days for the latest on the ongoing severe weather.