The Storm Prediction Center has issued tornado and severe thunderstorm watch alerts for specific U.S. states and has provided details on what each location can expect.
Initially, storms that formed on the evening of March 3 were expected to be slightly elevated, meaning large hail would likely be the first hazard to emerge. However, as the front continues its eastward march, storms are forecast to evolve into a more organized line, feeding off the increasingly unstable warm sector.
In addition to the broad severe weather outlook issued for the Plains, the SPC has also placed portions of southwest Arkansas, southern and southeast Oklahoma, and central to northeast Texas under an active Tornado Watch.
The primary threats associated with this Tornado Watch include the possibility of a few tornadoes, along with scattered damaging winds, some of which could gust up to 75 miles per hour.
This fast-moving line of storms is expected to maintain its strength as it tracks toward more densely populated areas during the morning hours.
Acting early, before a tornado forms, is one of the most effective ways to stay safe. Residents should also take inventory of supplies in case they need to seek shelter quickly.
Social media users have already taken to platforms such as X to show the occurrence of these severe storms. One such post comes from a civilian in North Texas, where a tornado siren went off.
Beyond the severe thunderstorm and tornado watches already in place, the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has also issued another notice. They have warned of a major winter storm set to impact the Central U.S. through the middle of the week.
This powerful system is expected to bring a wide range of dangerous weather conditions, including blizzard conditions, damaging high winds, and the risk of flash flooding across parts of the Plains, Midwest, and into the Great Lakes region.
As the system tracks farther east, a swath of four to eight inches of snow combined with intense winds will likely create blizzard conditions across portions of the Central High Plains and into the Upper Midwest. Some locations could see as much as a foot of snow.
The Prediction Center has highlighted this heightened fire danger in its latest Fire Weather Outlook, urging residents in these areas to remain alert.
Heavy rain is also expected to soak parts of the Midwest and the Mid-South, and the Weather Prediction Center has outlined a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall, raising concerns for localized flash flooding.
At the same time, a new Pacific storm system is forecast to arrive in California by Wednesday, bringing heavy rain to the coast and significant snow to the Sierra Nevada.
From blizzards and fire weather to severe storms and flash floods, the central and southern United States are bracing for a high-impact stretch of weather, putting communities on high alert across multiple states.
