Severe thunderstorms to continue pestering southern US
Rounds of severe weather will continue to bring various threats such as flooding downpours and large hail from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
As multiple storms track across the southern United States into this weekend, rounds of severe weather will develop and propagate eastward with different threats expected to unfold in separate areas on a daily basis, AccuWeather meteorologists say.
An abundance of cool air will limit severe thunderstorm activity over the Midwest and Northeast through this weekend and into next week. However, severe thunderstorms could still ignite over the Southern states.
While the overall pattern does not favor a major outbreak of tornadoes through at least Friday, even one twister in a populated area can pose a major threat to lives and trigger significant property damage. Forecasters urge people to take all severe weather threats seriously, have a plan of action ahead of storms and seek shelter when severe storms are imminent.
This week has already produced a plethora of severe thunderstorms. On Tuesday, a smattering of storms with hail and high winds developed over Texas and Florida. While there were less than four dozen reports of severe weather in both states, hail to the size of golf balls and baseballs occurred in Lake County, Florida, and in several counties in Texas.
A few additional severe storms lit up the atmosphere into Wednesday evening in the Florida Peninsula. Hail up to 3 inches in diameter was reported in Marion County, located in the northern portion of the state, on Wednesday afternoon.
Brief tornadoes occurred near Waco in Valley Mills on April 26. Tennis ball-sized hail also fell while tornado sirens were going.
Meanwhile, storms progressed eastward from central Texas Wednesday afternoon. A possible tornado was seen on the ground near the Waco area later in the afternoon hours, while at 4:39 p.m. CDT, one person was reported injured from storms in Cherokee County, local law enforcement reported. Hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter was also reported in the Waco area, and a 63-mph wind gust was recorded in Waco in the early evening hours.
Storms also began to hit the Dallas area late Wednesday afternoon, causing a ground stop at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Initial severe weather risk to persist in the Southeast into Friday
Multiple rounds of severe storms are expected to develop by the weekend, forecasters say. In fact, some of the same areas could be at risk of damaging thunderstorms several days in a row.
The same storm that produced these severe reports is expected to move across the southeastern U.S. in the coming days. The intensity of the storms eased late in the morning, but the storms were growing stronger once again due to the heating of the day and will persist into the evening.
As the storm system tracks across the Carolinas on Friday, the East Coast will once again be at risk for severe thunderstorms, including Florida.
"Communities along the I-95 corridor from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Melbourne, Florida, should all be on alert for severe thunderstorms on Friday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis explained.
The main risks will range from flash flooding and sudden lightning strikes to more incidents of damaging winds and hail. The drenching storms are also likely to derail outdoor plans ahead of the weekend. Motorists heading home a little early on Friday could be greeted with slower travel, due to the anticipated heavier downpours and gusty winds.
Second round of severe storms to sweep from Texas to North Carolina
At the same time, another storm is expected to emerge from the Rockies, reigniting the risk of severe weather across the southern U.S.
"As thunderstorms continue to erupt along the East Coast Friday, yet another storm is expected to strengthen in the central U.S. This storm will reignite the threat for severe weather in the Plains, before moving into the Southeast for the weekend," said Travis.
Thunderstorms are likely to fire up during the afternoon on Friday in central Texas before moving eastward into Friday night. Many of the same communities that were hit with severe weather on Wednesday, along the Interstate 35 corridor, will once again be at risk.
The full spectrum of severe weather — including high winds, large hail, flash flooding, frequent lightning strikes and perhaps a few tornadoes— will be possible with the strongest thunderstorms in Texas on Friday, from Dallas to San Antonio and Austin.
This new round of severe weather will progress eastward across the Southern states throughout the weekend, bringing more wet weather on Saturday and Sunday.
With such an active weather pattern as of late, nailing down the exact timing and strength of this second storm has been more challenging for forecasters. However, AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning of another round of rainfall and possible severe weather along the Eastern Seaboard all week.
The Gulf Coast is likely to be at risk of another dose of severe weather on Saturday afternoon and evening that will threaten cities like New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, for the second time in three days.
By Sunday, locations similar to Friday's East Coast risk are likely to again be targeted by severe thunderstorms.
After Sunday, the ingredients for severe weather will be pushed offshore. There should then be a lull in the potential for severe thunderstorms across the nation through at least Wednesday.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
