Severe Tornado Outbreak Threatens at Least 4 US States, National Weather Service Warns - Sputnik International

(Sputnik) - A significant tornado outbreak threatens four US states in the next two days, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center said in a notice on Wednesday.

    "A significant tornado outbreak, with long-track, intense tornadoes is expected to begin this afternoon across parts of Louisiana and Arkansas, and then spread eastward and peak this evening into tonight across Mississippi and Alabama", the notice said.

The “high risk” warning includes the possibility of intense tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts, the notice also said.

On Thursday, the severe weather is expected to continue in parts of the US states of Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee, the notice added.

National Weather Service issued the “high risk” for the first time since 2012, according to media reports.

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• AccuWeather forecasters warn that a dangerous severe weather outbreak could put at least 17 states and more than 100 million Americans at risk across the United States this week. Severe thunderstorms will erupt each day through Thursday across parts of the southern U.S., with the greatest threat and potential for tornadoes Wednesday, lasting well into the nighttime hours, and Thursday.

All facets of severe weather ranging from large hail and flash flooding to damaging straight-line wind gusts and tornadoes can occur from Wednesday through Thursday evening in what is likely to evolve into a significant severe thunderstorm and tornado outbreak.

"I think the highest tornado threat is going to be Wednesday and Thursday, especially on Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, adding that in addition to unleashing all modes of severe weather, there's another aspect about this outbreak that has meteorologists particularly concerned: "Severe weather will be lingering long after sunset over the next few nights."

The first tornado watches on Wednesday stretched across central Arkansas, northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee.

States at risk for severe weather, including at least isolated tornadoes, are Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The threat may expand to portions of West Virginia and Ohio as well.

Even outside of tornadoes, AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gusts of 70 mph can occur in the strongest storms during on Thursday. Gusts could be even stronger, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph expected in storms on Wednesday and Wednesday night.

On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott placed resources on standby in preparation for the onslaught of severe weather. "With heavy rain, high winds, and blizzard conditions expected in parts of the state overnight, Texas should be cautious of flood risks and potential damage from this weather event," Abbott said in a press release.

Storms that developed on Tuesday night primarily produced large hail...

 

 

 Video oficial de Noticias Telemundo. Alertan sobre un brote de tornados que se estaría acercando con fuerza la tarde de este miércoles al valle de Mississippi.

 La recomendación es refugiarse lejos de puertas y ventanas.