weather
Forecast models show where precipitation is expected.
CNN
—
More than 8 million people are at risk of powerful tornadoes as severe thunderstorms rumble across the Southeast and the Ohio Valley on Tuesday, with some areas fearing damage from hail and winds larger than a golf ball. has been done.
A widespread storm system poses the greatest risk of severe thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday so far this year. Severe thunderstorms hit parts of Texas to Illinois on Monday, spawning three tornadoes in Oklahoma and reports of hailstones larger than baseballs in some areas.
The greatest risk for severe tornadoes, which can tear through miles of land, now extends from southeastern Indiana across Ohio and into parts of Kentucky and West Virginia, the Storm Prediction Center said. did. prediction.
The center said some hailstones could be more than 2 inches in diameter and could bring damaging winds of up to 70 mph (110 km/h).
The storm is likely to reach maximum strength Tuesday afternoon and evening, but may continue overnight in some areas.
The Storm Prediction Center urged residents in the storm's path to monitor the forecast as areas at risk could change. “Now is the time to ensure you have a plan in place for severe weather,” it advised.
The risk of severe storms on Tuesday is Level 4/5 for most of Ohio and parts of Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
View this interactive content on CNN.com
Much of Ohio is at risk of being hit by strong tornadoes on Tuesday. The state typically sees an average of 22 tornadoes a year, according to NOAA data, making it second only to Florida in the number of preliminary tornadoes reported so far this year. At least 26 tornadoes were reported in each region of Ohio, and 30 tornadoes were recorded in Florida.
According to the National Weather Center, parts of the Southeast stretching from Alabama to southern Pennsylvania are at a Level 5/5 risk of severe storms, including tornadoes and large hail. This region includes the cities of Nashville, Birmingham, Knoxville, and Huntsville.
Similar severe weather hit the central United States on Monday, with more than 100 reports of severe weather across the region. Large amounts of hail were reported in Texas, including a 4.5-inch hailstone in Brier, the size of a softball.
More than 4 million people from central Illinois to central Missouri remained under tornado watches as of 4 a.m. ET Tuesday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The storm will continue to wreak havoc Wednesday as cold air pushes into the northern edge of the system and rain and snow begin to form a wintry mix.
Rain will mix with snow and wintry conditions in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions late Tuesday, with rain and snow expected to continue through Thursday in parts of both regions.
Cities including Chicago may also see a few sheets of snow, but little snow accumulation is expected.
Michigan and regions across the state are expected to see the heaviest snowfall totals. Wisconsin could see 6 to 12 inches of snow into Wednesday afternoon. Snow will continue to fall in some parts of Michigan into Thursday, potentially disrupting the morning and afternoon commute.
View this interactive content on CNN.com
Inland areas of the Tohoku region will experience winter-like weather. Wednesday, A winter storm watch will be in place for much of the Interior through Friday.
The Adirondacks could see up to a foot of snow by Thursday, and parts of the Green and White Mountains could see more than a foot. Wind gusts of up to 80 mph and heavy snow can combine to create blizzard conditions that can cause power outages and travel delays.
Rain is currently expected in major cities in the Northeast, including New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia.
CNN's Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.
