March went out like a lion and April is coming in like a lion. Additional high-impact severe weather day is expected Tuesday, April 4.

Severe weather is expected in some of the same locations that saw severe weather just last Friday where there is now a moderate (level 4 of 5) severe risk [red area] for the ArkLaTex region extending north into southern Missouri and across eastern Iowa into western Illionois and northeastern Missouri. Surrounding the moderate severe risk is a large enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange area], slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow area] and marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green area] from eastern Texas to southern Wisconsin and into parts of Mississippi and Tennessee. This includes many major metro areas including Dallas, Little Rock, Tulsa, Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, and Chicago.

**Tuesday's severe risk area**

![ Tuesday's severe risk area](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Tuesday_s_severe_risk_area_322a13df90.jpeg)

The severe weather setup on Tuesday is eerily similar to what the region saw last Friday, which means very similar hazards exist, including tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. A few to several strong, long-track tornadoes are possible within the risk area, especially in the moderate and enhanced severe risk areas. These tornadoes could be EF2 or stronger. In these same areas, very large hail, larger than golf ball size, and wind gusts of hurricane force are possible.

**Have a plan in place and reliable sources to receive warnings from**

If you live in any of the risk areas, level 1-4, please make sure you keep up to date with the latest forecast. Have a plan in place in case a warning is issued. And have a couple of reliable, timely sources to receive weather warnings from.

Severe storms could produce strong tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds Tuesday from the Great Lakes into the Mid-South.

Another severe outbreak with strong tornadoes expected Tuesday

Another chance for high-impact severe weather today, Sunday, April 2, across north Texas including the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

A volatile environment will set up across north Texas this afternoon and evening as a warm, moist airmass surges north into the region. The boundary between this warm, moist air, and slightly cooler drier air to the north along with a sharpening dryline in western Texas will help trigger the storms this afternoon and evening as a strong piece of lift races into Texas.

Making the situation even more concerning is the afternoon sunshine across the severe risk area, which will only help enhance the severe potential this afternoon continuing into the evening and possibly even into the nighttime hours. 

The Storm Prediction Center has a sever risk not only for northern Texas, but the severe risk extends into central and eastern Texas, southern and central Oklahoma, southern Arkansas, central and northern Louisiana and west-central Mississippi. This is where a level 1 (marginal risk—dark green), level 2 (slight risk—yellow) and level 3 (enhanced risk—orange) exists for tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds. 

**Today's severe risk**

![ Today's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Today_s_severe_risk_3ddbe0b4e8.jpeg)

**Today's tornado probability**

![ Today's tornado probability](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Today_s_tornado_probability_f3434a5f27.jpeg)

All risk areas have the potential to see severe thunderstorms but an emphasis on potentially the most significant, damaging severe storms may setup in north Texas where strong tornadoes (stronger than EF2), wind gusts to 80 mph, and very large hail (larger than golf balls) is possible.

**Today's severe risk in northern Texas and DFW**

![Today's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Today_s_severe_risk_2b7d121916.jpeg)

If you live in this area, please be weather aware this afternoon, evening and tonight.

Today's severe risk

Another chance for high-impact severe weather today, Sunday, April 2, across north Texas including the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Dallas, north Texas could see strong tornadoes and very large hail

Coming off an active severe weather day Friday with numerous severe weather reports from the Plains into the Midwest and down into the Deep South, the severe threat continues Saturday.

Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are possible for the Eastern Seaboard from the Northeast down into the Southeast. While the severe weather risk is considerably lower than Friday, dangerous storms are still possible.

There's a marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] and a slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow] for the Southeast this afternoon and evening. Many storms stay below severe levels but the ones that get stronger could produce damaging winds and pocket change size hail. Damaging wind is the biggest concern for southern parts of Alabama, southern Georgia into southern coastal areas of South Carolina. There is a low-end tornado risk late this afternoon. 

**Southeast severe risk Saturday**

![Southeast severe risk Saturday](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Southeast_severe_risk_Saturday_63326bc958.jpeg)

A slightly higher severe risk exists farther north across the Northeast where more widespread severe storms are expected. There's a slightly higher chance for tornadoes in this region along with larger hail sizes. Because of the increased coverage and intensity in storms, there's an enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange] this afternoon and evening.
**Northeast severe risk Saturday**

![ Northeast severe risk Saturday](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Northeast_severe_risk_Saturday_55589f5dc7.jpeg)

If you live in or near the risk area, please have a shelter plan in place in case a warning is issued for your area. Also, have a couple reliable sources to receive weather accurate, timely severe weather warnings from.

 Northeast severe risk Saturday

The severe risk continues Saturday for the East Coast.

Severe risk continues today, shifts east

A tornado watch, tornado warning, and tornado emergency are different levels of alerts issued by weather authorities when tornadoes are possible, imminent, or causing severe damage. Here are definitions and analogies to help you better understand each term:

**Tornado Watch:**

Definition: A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes in a specific area. It is a precautionary alert to make people aware of the potential for tornadoes and encourages them to stay informed about the weather situation.

Analogy: A tornado watch is like a baker gathering all the ingredients needed to bake a cake. The baker has not yet started baking, but they have everything ready, so it's possible that a cake will be made. Similarly, a tornado watch signifies that conditions are right for a tornado to form, but one has not yet developed.

**Tornado Warning:**

Definition: A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been spotted or detected by radar in the vicinity. This alert means that a tornado is imminent, and people should take immediate action to protect themselves and seek shelter.

Analogy: A tornado warning is like the baker putting the cake in the oven. The process has started, and it's only a matter of time before the cake is ready. In the same way, a tornado warning indicates that a tornado is forming or has been spotted, and people must take action to stay safe.

**Tornado Emergency:**

Definition: A tornado emergency is an exceptionally rare and severe alert issued when a large, destructive tornado is causing significant damage, and there is a high potential for loss of life. This alert is used for the most dangerous and life-threatening tornado situations.

Analogy: A tornado emergency is like the cake catching fire in the oven, and the fire is rapidly spreading. The situation has escalated to a dangerous level, and immediate action is necessary to prevent further damage or harm. Similarly, a tornado emergency indicates an extremely dangerous tornado causing significant damage, and people must take immediate life-saving actions.

tornado_example.png

A Guide to Tornado Alerts: Watch, Warning, and Emergency Explained

The tornado risk is increasing for the Memphis metro and areas surrounding the metro. There are two supercells to the southwest of Memphis in east central Arkansas that are showing signs of improved storm structure and increased rotation. These storms are racing northeast toward Memphis and other parts of northwestern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee at nearly 50 mph.

Environmental conditions ahead of these storms will grow increasingly favorable for tornadoes, and because of this increased risk, the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted this area for an increased tornado threat over the next hour or two.

**Tornado risk message from the SPC**

![SPC message](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/SPC_message_5d1fc0a103.png)

As of 7:15 p.m. local time, there's a confirmed large and dangerous tornado on the ground near West Helena, crossing the Mississippi River soon into northwestern Mississippi. If this storm maintains its rotation and intensity, it'll move toward the south Memphis suburbs over the next half an hour. 

If you live in or near Memphis, please keep a close eye on the latest forecast and seek shelter if a warning is issued.

SPC message

There's an increasing tornado risk for the Memphis metro over the next few hours.

Tornado risk increasing for Memphis metro

A large, damaging tornado swept through central Arkansas Friday afternoon impacting parts of Little Rock. Reports on social media show widespread damage in parts of Little Rock and in areas surrounding the metro area.

Local media reports two deaths and over 600 injuries as of 3:40 p.m. local time (THV11.com). There are also nearly 75,000 power outages in and around Little Rock due to the tornado.

**Current Arkansas power outages Friday afternoon**

![Current power outages](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_power_outages_9377649151.png)

At the time of the tornado, the Little Rock National Weather Service issued a Tornado Emergency for parts of the Little Rock metro stating a "damaging tornado" was a threat with the storm. Over 350,000 people were included in the Tornado Emergency.

**Tornado Emergency Friday afternoon for Little Rock metro**

![Tornado Emergency](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Tornado_Emergency_c73e33a374.png)

The issuance of a Tornado Emergency is rare. The National Weather Service reserves a Tornado Emergency for when I) there's an ongoing or imminent severe threat to human life, II) catastrophic damage is imminent or ongoing, and/or III) reliable sources confirm a damaging tornado.

Updates to come.

Tornado Emergency

A damaging tornado hit parts of Little Rock, fatalities reported.

All blogs

Another severe outbreak with strong tornadoes expected Tuesday

Dallas, north Texas could see strong tornadoes and very large hail

Severe risk continues today, shifts east

A Guide to Tornado Alerts: Watch, Warning, and Emergency Explained

Tornado risk increasing for Memphis metro

Little Rock hit by catastrophic tornado