A severe thunderstorms outbreak with widespread damaging winds, tornadoes, and large hail is likely today and tonight from the Midwest into the Deep South. The strongest storms will have the capability to produce winds as strong as winds in a category 1 hurricane—potentially up to 80 mph, strong long-track tornadoes—EF2+, and very large hail—larger than golf balls.

The Storm Prediction Center has a large severe risk from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast states with many areas along the Mississippi River, from the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Lower Mississippi Valley, under a moderate (level 4 of 5) severe risk [red].

**Today's moderate severe thunderstorm risk**

![ Today's moderate severe thunderstorm risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Today_s_moderate_severe_thunderstorm_risk_d3de9f426a.jpeg)

A large enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange], slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow] and a marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] from as far west as Texas to as far east as Georgia and North Carolina, north into Wisconsin and Michigan. Numerous large Metro areas are included within the risk, placing tens of millions of people in an elevated severe and tornado today and tonight.

**Today's severe thunderstorm outlook and tornado & damaging wind probability**

![Today's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Today_s_severe_risk_187d36bd0c.jpeg)

**Thunderstorm timing**

Showers and isolated thunderstorms are ongoing this morning near the western side of the severe risk area from Kansas and Missouri, down into parts of Oklahoma and Texas. There are also a few scattered showers in other parts of the severe risk area. The main severe risk starts to unfold by early this afternoon with the severe risk continuing throughout the afternoon, into the evening hours, and continuing overnight. 

Severe storms will advance from west to east across the severe risk area throughout the day and night with isolated severe supercell storms developing out ahead of the eastward shifting line of severe storms.

**Have a shelter plan in place and know where to get weather warnings from**

If you live anywhere in or near the severe risk areas, please have a plan in place. Know where you will shelter if a warning is issued for your area. Also, have a few reliable weather sources to receive accurate, timely severe weather warnings from. It would be wise to go ahead and charge your electronic devices in case you lose power or have to seek shelter without adequate charging options.

 Today's moderate severe thunderstorm risk

A severe thunderstorms outbreak with widespread damaging winds, tornadoes, and large hail is likely today and tonight from the Midwest into the Deep South. The strongest storms will have the capability to produce winds as strong as winds in a category 1 hurricane—potentially up to 80 mph, strong long-track tornadoes—EF2+, and very large hail—larger than golf balls.

A severe outbreak with strong, long-track tornadoes likely

March will go out like a lion with another round of widespread severe thunderstorms and tornadoes Friday.

The storms system that brought flooding rain, heavy mountain snow, and damaging wind to California early this week is now moving across the Intermountain West. This system will continue to move east towards the Plains helping trigger intense thunderstorms to end the week.

Out ahead of this storm system, rich, Gulf moisture continues to surge north acting as fuel for thunderstorms. This warm, moist air mass will set the stage for spring storms and the potent storm system will provide strong speed and directional wind shear. All these ingredients will allow for rotating, severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds from the Midwest into the Deep South Friday afternoon, Friday evening, and Friday night.

Friday is expected to be a widespread, high-impact severe day with storms producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds from Illinois/Iowa south into Mississippi. This places millions at risk for tornadoes, including parts of Mississippi that were hit last Friday by violent tornadoes.

**Friday's severe risk**

The Storm Prediction Center upgraded parts of the risk area to a moderate (level 4 of 5) severe risk [red] in two areas from northwestern Mississippi, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, southeastern Missouri and southwestern Kentucky, and farther north across eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and northeastern Missouri.

![Friday's moderate severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_s_moderate_severe_risk_7b1343a230.jpeg)

![Friday's moderate severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_s_moderate_severe_risk_f7481dd34a.jpeg)

Surrounding the moderate risk, there's a widespread enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange] from central Iowa to central Mississippi, a slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow] from northeastern Texas to northwestern Georgia, north to Wisconsin, and marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] extending outward from the slight risk area.

![Friday's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_s_severe_risk_e8739dad48.jpeg)

**Friday's severe hazards probabilities**

All modes of severe weather are possible within all risk areas. It does appear the most widespread severe weather risk along with the highest probabilities for tornadoes and large hail will occur within the moderate risk. A couple strong tornadoes cannot be ruled out Friday afternoon and Friday evening.

![Friday's severe hazards probability](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_s_severe_hazards_probability_95606bf968.jpeg)

**Have a plan Friday**

If you live anywhere in or near the severe risk areas, please have a plan in place. Know where you will shelter if a warning is issued for your area. Also, have a few reliable weather sources to receive accurate, timely severe weather warnings from.

Friday's severe risk

Friday is expected to be a widespread, high-impact severe day with storms producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds from Illinois/Iowa south into Mississippi. This places millions at risk for tornadoes, including parts of Mississippi that were hit last Friday by violent tornadoes.

Moderate severe risk Friday: severe outbreak with tornadoes likely

The spring season just started last week, and the severe weather has quickly followed the start of the season. Another round of severe storms and tornadoes looks likely from late week into the weekend as we conclude the month of March and ring in April.

A potent storm system delivering heavy rain, snow, and wind to California today will zip east across the country through the end of the week into the week, triggering intense thunderstorms. Out ahead of this storm system, rich, Gulf moisture will surge north into the Plains. This warm, moist air mass will set the stage for spring storms and the potent storm system will provide strong speed and directional wind shear. This will allow for rotating, severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds for a big chunk of the county.

**Thursday**

The severe thunderstorm chances begin Thursday across the Plains from southeastern South Dakota down through northwestern Texas. Storms in South Dakota and Nebraska could produce hail whereas storms farther south from Kansas through Oklahoma into Texas have a better chance to produce gusty winds and isolated tornadoes. There's a marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] Thursday afternoon and evening.

**Thursday's severe risk**

![Thursday severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Thursday_severe_risk_eaf1957196.gif)

**Friday**

A more widespread, high-impact severe risk is expected to unfold Friday across central parts of the county from the Midwest to the Deep South. Severe storms are expected to be widespread Friday afternoon, evening and continuing into the overnight hours. These storms will have the capability to produce tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds from Illinois/Iowa south into Mississippi. This places millions at risk for tornadoes, including parts of Mississippi that were hit last Friday by violent tornadoes. There's a widespread enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange] from Iowa to Mississippi on Friday with a slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow] and marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] extending outward from the enhanced severe risk area. 

**Friday's severe risk**

![Friday severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_severe_risk_f2962aac36.jpeg)

**Friday's severe weather probability**

![Friday severe weather probability](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_severe_weather_probability_e83054c663.jpeg)
**
Saturday **

Additional isolated severe storms are possible on Saturday farther east into parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Currently there is no severe risk area outlined for these areas but that will likely change over the coming days as confidence increases in the severe risk level, area, and hazards.

**Plan NOW**

If you live anywhere in or near the risk areas, now is the time to plan. Have a severe weather plan in place in case a warning is issued for your area. Know where you'll shelter so you can readily activate that plan. It's also important to have a couple of reliable sources to receive quick, accurate weather alerts from. 

Friday severe weather probability

A widespread severe thunderstorm and tornado event is expected Friday from the Midwest to the Deep South.

Severe weather outbreak possible this week

Another round of high-impact thunderstorms is expected today for parts of the Deep South and Southeast. The severe risk extends form southeastern Texas across the southern half of the Gulf States and into the Carolinas for the day Sunday. 

Storms are ongoing at this hour with additional storms expected to fire up throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Storms later today are expected to become stronger than the storms experienced earlier in the morning hours today, posing a more significant severe risk as the atmosphere becomes primed to produce high-impact severe weather. The potential for extremely large hail and long-track, strong, potentially violent, tornadoes are possible.

Because of the severe risk and expected coverage, the Storm Prediction Center upgraded parts of the South to a moderate (level 4 of 5) severe risk [red] in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Surrounding the moderate risk is an enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange] for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama—right up to the Georgia state line. There is also a marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] and a slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow].

**Sunday's severe risk and tornado, hail, and damaging wind probabilities**

![Sunday's severe risk and tornado, hail, and damaging wind probabilities](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Sunday_s_severe_risk_and_tornado_hail_and_damaging_wind_probabilities_d4f5a7920f.jpeg)

It currently appears the highest strong tornado risk and largest hail risk will occur in-between the I-20 and I-10 corridors. All areas in the severe risk areas have the potential to see severe storms and even tornadoes.

**Area of greatest concern**

![Sunday's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Sunday_s_severe_risk_732cd2217c.jpeg)

If you live anywhere within this severe risk or near the severe risk, please make sure you keep a close eye on the forecast today. Have a plan in place in case a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for your location, and have a couple reliable sources to receive accurately, timely warnings from.

Sunday's severe risk

Another round of high-impact thunderstorms is expected today for parts of the Deep South and Southeast. 

Strong tornadoes and damaging hail possible for the South

The Jackson, Mississippi National Weather Service announced Saturday evening that the survey team's initial assessment of the tornado damage in Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi was caused by an EF-4 tornado Friday night.

EF-4 strength tornadoes have winds between 166-200 mph.

**Jackson, MS NWS tornado rating tweet**

![Jackson, MS NWS tweet](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Jackson_MS_NWS_tweet_7eca3e4f36.png)

This rating is a preliminary rating and subject to change as the NWS continues to assess the damage and finalize the details.

**Silver City tornado damage--picture courtesy MHP Greenwood, MS**

![Silver City tornado damage courtesy MHP Greenwood](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Silver_City_tornado_damage_courtesy_MHP_Greenwood_08f09e9212.png)

Survey teams were deployed to Sharkey County, Humphreys County, and Holmes/Montgomery Counties.

Finer details about the Rolling Fork/Silver City tornado along with the survey reports in the other Counties will be published once the reports are finalized.

Firsthand Weather sends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people impacted by the tornadoes across the South last night.

Silver City tornado damage courtesy MHP Greenwood

The Jackson, Mississippi National Weather Service announced Saturday evening that the survey team's initial assessment of the tornado damage in Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi was caused by an EF-4 tornado Friday night.

Mississippi tornado given preliminary EF-4 rating

Another round of high-impact thunderstorms is expected Sunday for parts of the Deep South and Southeast. The severe risk extends form southeastern Texas across the southern half of the Gulf States and into the Carolinas throughout the day Sunday. 

It appears morning thunderstorms are possible Sunday some of which could become severe producing gusty winds and pocket change size hail. Additional storms will potentially fire up Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening, which could become even stronger than the morning storms. The afternoon storms will pose a more significant severe risk as the atmosphere becomes more primed to produce high-impact severe weather.

Because of the severe risk, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a large marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk [dark green] and a slight (level 2 of 5) severe risk [yellow] for these areas with a recent upgrade to an enhanced (level 3 of 5) severe risk [orange] for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

**Sunday, March 26 severe risk from the SPC**

![Sunday's severe risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Sunday_s_severe_risk_338b6477dd.jpeg)

It does appear the main concern will be very large hail, potentially large than golf balls with the strongest storms, which is a big factor in the severe risk upgrade along with the coverage of storms, but there will also be a tornado and damaging wind risk as well with the storms. The highest tornado risk appears to be in-between the I-20 and I-10 corridors.


**Sunday, March 26 hail risk from the SPC**

![Sunday's hail risk](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Fs_F_Za_U0_Xg_A_Ax7_Y9_9ce1ffdee4.jpeg)

If you live anywhere within this severe risk or near the severe risk, please make sure you keep a close eye on the forecast today and tomorrow. Have a plan in place in case a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for your location, and have a couple reliable sources to receive accurately, timely warnings from.

Another round of high-impact thunderstorms is expected Sunday for parts of the Deep South and Southeast. Very large hail, isolated tornadoes, and strong winds possible.

All blogs

A severe outbreak with strong, long-track tornadoes likely

Moderate severe risk Friday: severe outbreak with tornadoes likely

Severe weather outbreak possible this week

Strong tornadoes and damaging hail possible for the South

Mississippi tornado given preliminary EF-4 rating

Severe upgrade: damaging storms possible Sunday for parts of the South & Southeast