Severe Weather Threat in Plains, Midwest, and South This Week

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Severe weather is expected to continue this week across the Plains, Midwest, and South, with risks of intense tornadoes, damaging hail, and destructive winds. This outbreak began late Sunday, affecting states including Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.

As of Monday, showers and thunderstorms are ongoing in Oklahoma and Texas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for central and eastern Oklahoma and parts of northwest Arkansas, set to remain in effect until 7 p.m. CDT.

The areas with the highest risks of strong tornadoes, as well as hail and wind damage, include northern Texas, central and eastern Oklahoma and Kansas, northwest Arkansas, and much of Missouri. Cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Wichita are on alert for severe weather.

This week’s weather system follows a series of severe storms that impacted the region last week. From Thursday through Sunday, over 90 tornadoes were reported. Significant tornado events included an EF2 tornado in northwest Wisconsin, an EF3 in St. Louis, and an EF4 tornado that hit Marion, Illinois.

The severe weather is expected to shift east toward the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. Major cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, Memphis, Nashville, Tupelo, and Louisville are advised to monitor updates on the changing weather conditions.

This current outbreak comes on the heels of a brief respite from severe storms last Saturday, marking a notable uptick in severe weather activity as spring progresses. Experts caution residents in impacted areas to remain vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing conditions.