Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes to threaten Arkansas to Ohio into Thursday night
By
Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 12, 2020 9:06 AM EDT
A complex storm system is expected to bring an elevated threat for severe weather across portions of the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys into Thursday night, including the risk for tornadoes.
The threat comes amid the ongoing cleanup efforts after deadly tornadoes swept through the Nashville metropolitan area less than two weeks ago.
Warm and humid air building in from the Gulf of Mexico will set the stage for severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and into Thursday night from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, eastward into Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cincinnati.
The initiation of showers and thunderstorms will likely focus along a warm front draped across eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
This radar image, captured at 1:20 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 12, 2020, shows individual thunderstorms erupting along the middle portion of the Mississippi River Valley. (AccuWeather)
All modes of severe weather will be possible as the severe thunderstorms erupt, including large hail, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes.
Around 2:20 p.m., traffic was stopped on I-57 due to wind-driven hail about two inches in diameter falling near Johnston City, Illinois, according to a preliminary NWS report. This was one of several preliminary hail reports to come from southern Illinois in Jefferson, Perry, Franklin and Williamson counties during the early afternoon.
The greatest threat for tornadoes seems likely from the northeastern corner of Arkansas and the southeastern part of Missouri to central Kentucky and southern Indiana, but includes northwestern Tennessee and southern Illinois.
The highest threat for thunderstorm activity around St. Louis will continue through 6 p.m. local time.
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Shower and thunderstorm coverage will expand eastward heading into the evening and overnight hours. Beginning around the afternoon rush hour and continuing into the evening hours, a good chunk of real estate across the Ohio River Valley will face the threat of severe weather.
Thunderstorms may not arrive in cities such as Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, until after nightfall.
While there will continue to be a risk for severe thunderstorms after sunset across the mid-South, the threat will begin to diminish across the region after midnight.
With the threat of severe thunderstorms lasting after sunset across the region, it is important for people living in the potential path of these storms to have the means to receive any severe weather warnings that are issued. By downloading the AccuWeather app, you can receive these warnings directly on your smartphone.
One person that was in the Nashville area during last week's deadly tornadoes told AccuWeather that these severe weather alerts literally saved his life.
If warnings are issued in your neighborhood, especially at night, seek shelter immediately and do not attempt to go see what kind of activity is going on outside. It is important to have a plan of action ready in case severe weather strikes in your area.
One item not commonly thought of in the midst of chaotic severe weather is a good pair of shoes or boots to wear. Often times if homes are damaged, glass and other sharp objects can be scattered all over, posing a health threat even after storms have passed.
The storm system will clear out of the mid-South and Ohio Valley by Friday morning. In the wake of the storm system, a much colder air mass will filter into the region. Dry and tranquil conditions will be rather short-lived, as the next storm system to bring a steady rain to the region will arrive on Saturday.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes to threaten Arkansas to Ohio into Thursday night
By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 12, 2020 9:06 AM EDT
A complex storm system is expected to bring an elevated threat for severe weather across portions of the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys into Thursday night, including the risk for tornadoes.
The threat comes amid the ongoing cleanup efforts after deadly tornadoes swept through the Nashville metropolitan area less than two weeks ago.
Warm and humid air building in from the Gulf of Mexico will set the stage for severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and into Thursday night from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, eastward into Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cincinnati.
The initiation of showers and thunderstorms will likely focus along a warm front draped across eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
This radar image, captured at 1:20 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 12, 2020, shows individual thunderstorms erupting along the middle portion of the Mississippi River Valley. (AccuWeather)
All modes of severe weather will be possible as the severe thunderstorms erupt, including large hail, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes.
Around 2:20 p.m., traffic was stopped on I-57 due to wind-driven hail about two inches in diameter falling near Johnston City, Illinois, according to a preliminary NWS report. This was one of several preliminary hail reports to come from southern Illinois in Jefferson, Perry, Franklin and Williamson counties during the early afternoon.
The greatest threat for tornadoes seems likely from the northeastern corner of Arkansas and the southeastern part of Missouri to central Kentucky and southern Indiana, but includes northwestern Tennessee and southern Illinois.
The highest threat for thunderstorm activity around St. Louis will continue through 6 p.m. local time.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Shower and thunderstorm coverage will expand eastward heading into the evening and overnight hours. Beginning around the afternoon rush hour and continuing into the evening hours, a good chunk of real estate across the Ohio River Valley will face the threat of severe weather.
Thunderstorms may not arrive in cities such as Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, until after nightfall.
Related:
While there will continue to be a risk for severe thunderstorms after sunset across the mid-South, the threat will begin to diminish across the region after midnight.
With the threat of severe thunderstorms lasting after sunset across the region, it is important for people living in the potential path of these storms to have the means to receive any severe weather warnings that are issued. By downloading the AccuWeather app, you can receive these warnings directly on your smartphone.
One person that was in the Nashville area during last week's deadly tornadoes told AccuWeather that these severe weather alerts literally saved his life.
If warnings are issued in your neighborhood, especially at night, seek shelter immediately and do not attempt to go see what kind of activity is going on outside. It is important to have a plan of action ready in case severe weather strikes in your area.
One item not commonly thought of in the midst of chaotic severe weather is a good pair of shoes or boots to wear. Often times if homes are damaged, glass and other sharp objects can be scattered all over, posing a health threat even after storms have passed.
The storm system will clear out of the mid-South and Ohio Valley by Friday morning. In the wake of the storm system, a much colder air mass will filter into the region. Dry and tranquil conditions will be rather short-lived, as the next storm system to bring a steady rain to the region will arrive on Saturday.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo