New tornado outbreaks expected Saturday, severe weather threat expected to hit 55 million people
After Friday's destruction, there is no time to rest as Mother Nature sets another day of dangerous and wild weather for Saturday. Additional tornadoes are expected from northern Texas to Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas.
Hours after a tornado tore through the nation's center, injuring more than a dozen people and reducing neighborhoods to rubble, another widespread and life-threatening tornado could develop across the Southern Plains on Saturday. . Additionally, the potential for severe to extreme flash flooding is increasing in parts of east-central Oklahoma, with 5 to 10 inches of rain possible by Sunday morning.
Live Severe Weather Storm Map Tracker
As the air improves Saturday, about 55 million people are under threat of severe weather, spanning about 1,500 miles along the Plains and Mississippi Valley from border to border and into the Great Lakes, where Friday's storm This includes many areas where damage still remains.
Devastating tornado damage reported Friday
Tornadoes expected across the Southern Plains, bringing softball-sized hail
Severe thunderstorms will continue Saturday morning from northwest Texas to western Oklahoma, with large hail and wind damage being the biggest threat.
Tornado watches have been issued for the Plains region, with one covering Texas and Oklahoma until 1 p.m. CT, and another covering parts of Kansas until 7 p.m. CT. Masu.
Widespread severe thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday afternoon, making the atmosphere highly suitable for multiple tornadoes and large amounts of hail.
The greatest threat from Saturday's tornado outbreak stretches from northern Texas to Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas, where NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has rated the severe weather risk as Level 4 out of 5.
5-point Severe Thunderstorm Risk Category Scale Description
The storm could produce long-lasting, intense tornadoes of magnitude EF-3 or higher, large softball-sized hailstones, and wind gusts exceeding 110 mph.
A line of severe thunderstorms is expected to form late Saturday evening and move east across eastern Oklahoma and north Texas. The more intense portion of the storm line will continue through the night, with the potential for tornadoes and damaging wind gusts exceeding 110 mph.
“This is going to be a very dangerous day for so many people, especially those who live in southeastern Kansas, eastern and central Oklahoma, and across the Red River into north Texas.” said FOX Weather meteorologist Kendall Smith.
NWS Omaha praises residents for heeding warnings during deadly tornado outbreak
Chris Franks with NWS Omaha said there were no fatalities despite the strong tornado that caused major damage in several cities near Omaha and western Iowa.
Nighttime tornadoes: How to protect yourself from nighttime tornadoes
Severe weather threat extends north to the Great Lakes
Meanwhile, a warm front to the north is likely to extend from Nebraska to Wisconsin, according to the FOX Prediction Center. This front will focus on another area of strong to severe storms on Saturday.
What is a “tornado emergency”?
Level 3 severe weather risk extends to much of the Central Plains, including Kansas City, Missouri. Des Moines, Iowa. and Topeka, Kansas.
Omaha, Nebraska, and Minden, Iowa, which were hit by tornadoes on Friday, are both under a Level 2 severe weather risk on Saturday.
Again, tornadoes and golf ball-sized hail will be the biggest threat from these storms. Strong tornadoes of EF-2 or higher are possible across southern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and far western Missouri, including Kansas City and Topeka.
How do tornadoes occur?
The severe risk extends north to the Great Lakes and encompasses parts of Michigan, Illinois and southern Wisconsin, including Chicago and Milwaukee, which were also at Level 2 risk on Saturday. There is.
More daunting weather news: Severe weather areas now likely to experience major flash flooding
If tornadoes, hail and winds weren't enough, much of the Southern Plains will be at severe to extreme risk of flash flooding Saturday into Saturday night.
What are training thunderstorms and why are they so dangerous?
Severe thunderstorms will become more widespread Saturday evening, with heavy rain possible at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour in parts.
Thunderstorms can be slow-moving or stationary, dumping several inches of rain in the same area and causing major flooding.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center has announced that parts of Oklahoma along Interstate 40 east of Oklahoma City are currently at a Level 4 out of 4 flash flood risk into Sunday morning. .
Why you need to take rare 'high risk' flood days seriously
“Major flash flooding events remain likely across parts of east-central Oklahoma, with higher precipitation totals Saturday evening into Saturday night,” WPC forecasters said in a statement. forecasters said in an updated forecast at 11 a.m. CT.
Forecasters said 24-hour rainfall totals in the Level 4 flash flood danger area could approach or exceed 10 inches. However, flash flooding of 3 to 6 inches or more is expected from the Red River Valley to much of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Although a “high” risk of flash flooding is only announced on about 4% of days (including tropical and non-tropical events), this risk category accounts for 39% of flood-related deaths and 83% of flood-related damages on the continent. %. According to the U.S. Research by WPC meteorologists. Additionally, 46% of high-risk flood days result in at least one death or injury, and 62% of such days result in at least $1 million in damages. greg carbineWPC's forecasting operations branch manager pointed out in the survey.
More thunderstorms are possible over the same area on Sunday.
No rest for the weary: More severe weather expected on Sunday
The severe weather threat is expected to subside slightly Sunday, but there remains a widespread risk of additional storms across the Mississippi Valley. The Level 2 severe weather threat covers more than 20 million people from Austin and Dallas in Texas to southeastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts are once again occurring, but the storm is not expected to be as intense as Saturday.
The central part of the country should finally be free from the bad weather on Monday.
