Severe Weather and Tornado Threats Across Multiple States

U.S. weather forecasters are issuing alerts as the threat of tornadoes extends into the weekend, following a series of devastating storms in Missouri that spawned at least five tornadoes on Friday. This severe weather left approximately 100,000 buildings without power, disrupting communities across the region.

Tornado Risks and Expected Severe Weather

The National Weather Service has identified a heightened risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms impacting many states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. AccuWeather anticipates that the peak risk for these storms will occur from Saturday afternoon through Saturday night.

Warnings and Emergency Declarations

Heavy thunderstorms are forecasted to sweep from the Midwest to the Mississippi Valley, bringing potential for flash flooding, power outages, downed trees, and travel disruptions. In response to these threats, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency effective through Sunday, warning residents that “this severe weather could cause significant damage to public and private property.”

The state of emergency activates the National Guard, which will be on standby for potential deployment. Similarly, Missouri has also declared a state of emergency as a precautionary measure.

Future Weather Outlook

As forecasts suggest, the storm system is likely to continue its path toward the East Coast by Saturday night into Sunday. While the tornado threat may diminish, residents along the East Coast should prepare for hail and hazardous wind gusts.

This severe weather system is anticipated to move off into the Atlantic Ocean by late Sunday night into Monday, bringing some much-needed relief to affected areas.