The potential for a severe weather and tornado outbreak is increasing for parts of the South later this week from Texas to the Carolinas.

This setup is a battle of the season, which typically brings damaging thunderstorms to this region and this event looks no different. A big dip in the jet stream will dip into the South beginning Wednesday and travel east into Thursday and Friday. This will send a chilly winter-like air mass crashing into a warm, moist spring-like air mass triggering severe thunderstorms. The wind shear, speed, and direction, associated with this setup look to favor vigorous thunderstorms that could rotate producing the potential of tornadoes. The severe weather will continue from Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon spanning from the Ark-La-Texas region to the Carolinas.

**Wednesday's severe risk**

![Wednesday's thunderstorm outlook](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Wednesday_s_thunderstorm_outlook_cc26fe76f7.png)

The initial severe risk begins Wednesday afternoon and evening extending from northern Texas and southern Oklahoma east-northeast into Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. The main concerns look to be large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, but an isolated tornado risk does exist Wednesday night.

**Thursday's severe risk**

![Thursday's thunderstorm outlook](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Thursday_s_thunderstorm_outlook_69bc2b6ebd.png)

A substantially higher severe risk exists Thursday afternoon and evening for the eastern half of Texas and the southern half of Oklahoma east into western Georgia. The most widespread, damaging thunderstorms, and potentially strong tornadoes, exist from northern and eastern Texas, into southern Oklahoma, southern and central Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and west-central Mississippi. Strong tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall are possible with the thunderstorms on Thursday. A significant tornado risk will extend into the nighttime hours Thursday.

**Friday's severe risk**

![Friday's thunderstorm outlook](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_s_thunderstorm_outlook_1e080322b2.png)

The severe risk continues on Friday across the Southeast extending from central Tenessee and eastern Alabama into the Carolinas. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are possible with thunderstorms throughout the day Friday.


If you live in this region, please prepare now and have a plan in case a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning is issued for your location. Know where you will shelter and have a plan implemented for quick action. Also, have a few reliable sources to receive speedy, accurate weather warnings and information from. 







Thursday's thunderstorm outlook

The potential for a severe weather and tornado outbreak is increasing for parts of the South later this week from Texas to the Carolinas.

Eyeing the potential for a severe thunderstorm and tornado outbreak for the South this week

A major winter storm will slam Southern California with heavy mountain snow and damaging wind gusts.

These combined conditions (snow and wind) are expected to bring blizzard conditions to the Southern California mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Friday through Saturday.

Because of the forecast of blizzard conditions, the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning from 4 a.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Saturday for these mountains. Areas within the Blizzard Warning can expect winds gusting up to 75 mph along with heavy snow that will reduce visibility to near zero.

**Current weather alerts for Southern California**

![Southern California current weather alerts](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Southern_California_current_weather_alerts_42067da090.png)

**Maximum wind gust forecast**

![Southern California wind forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Southern_California_wind_forecast_0f676f434e.png)

The snow will be quite heavy and snow rates could exceed 2 inches per hour at times. By the end of the weekend, 3-6 feet of snow could fall for the highest peaks above 4,000 feet. Even the lower mountains and foothills will see accumulating snow with snow levels dropping down to 1,000 feet on Saturday. Half a foot to a foot of snow can be expected in these areas. Travel will become treacherous if not completely impossible. 

**Snow accumulation forecast**

![Southern California snow forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Southern_California_snow_forecast_b20cb451ef.png)

If a Blizzard Warning sounds odd to you for Southern California, you're right. This is the first Blizzard Warning for the Southern California mountains since February of 1989.

For the basin, including the city of Los Angeles, heavy rain is a concern and flooding is possible. 2-5 inches of rain is expected for the city and surrounding areas. A Flood Watch goes into effect Friday morning continuing into Saturday.

**Rain accumulation forecast**

![Rain accumulation forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Rain_accumulation_forecast_f93244ebc5.png)




Southern California weather alerts

A rare Blizzard Warning issued for Southern California mountains including Los Angeles County.

Blizzard Warning issued for Southern California mountains

A strong storm system will slam Southern California this week bringing heavy mountain snow, strong winds, and areas of heavy rainfall to the valleys, including in Los Angeles and San Diego where temperatures will be well below average and weather conditions will be wet.

The initial impacts will be minor for Southern California beginning late Tuesday into Wednesday with some spotty lowland rain showers, areas of mountain snow, and most noticeably colder temperatures and gusty winds. Bigger impacts arrive late week into the weekend as the main storm system drops down the California coast, from north to south, out of the Pacific Northwest.

This big area of low pressure will increase moisture and wind initially beginning in Northern and Central California Wednesday and Thursday and shifting into Southern California late Thursday and Friday and continuing into the weekend.

This storm system will tap into rich moisture, paired with being a slow-mover, bringing several inches of rain to the west, southwest, and south-facing foothills of Southern California, and lighter but still impressive, rain amounts to the valleys of Southern California.

**Rainfall forecast through this weekend**

![Rainfall forecast through this weekend](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Rainfall_forecast_through_this_weekend_ebc1e27ead.jpeg)

**Atmospheric river to impact SoCal**

![Storm and atmospheric river](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Storm_and_atmospheric_river_fb238aba86.jpeg)

This storm system's origins are cold so it has a lot of cold air associated with it, which will plummet snow levels. Snow levels will drop down to around 1,250 to 1,500 feet in some cases and feet of snow to the mountains in Southern California. In fact, snow levels will be so low that Banning Pass and the Grapevine will see snow that could disrupt travel. Upwards of a foot of snow could fall for the Grapevine.

**Snow forecast through this weekend
**

![Snow forecast through this weekend](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Snow_forecast_through_this_weekend_1da7a4ca1d.jpeg)

Strong, gusty winds will also disrupt travel and could lead to power outages and minor structural damage to smaller outbuildings. Winds will gust between 50 to 60 mph with some higher gusts approaching 70 to 90 mph in the gap areas and higher elevations. Some of the strongest wind gusts will be realized Tuesday night and Wednesday.

**Wind forecast Tuesday night and Wednesday**

![Wind forecast Tuesday night and Wednesday](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Wind_forecast_Tuesday_night_and_Wednesday_9211545fd2.jpeg)

There's a plethora of wind alerts (High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories) along with winter weather alerts (Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories) for Southern California and most of California. The heaviest rain and snow will fall Friday and Saturday in Southern California, and by the time the storm departs by the late weekend, Big Bear could be left with feet of snow. 

**Current weather alerts**

![Current weather alerts](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_weather_alerts_4c552ab684.png)

Current weather alerts

A high-impact winter will storm will slam Southern California this week bringing damaging winds and feet of snow

Big winter storm to slam Southern California this week

Is it winter or early summer? While much of the county is dealing with frigid temperatures and snow, southern parts of the county will bask in record-warm temperatures for this time of the year. This includes the Southeast, South, parts of Texas and parts of the Mid-Atlantic.

A strong summer-like area of high pressure has set up and will strengthen its grip, placing the region in a favorable pattern for warm temperatures. In fact, many areas across the Southeast, South, parts of Texas, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic will see high temperatures climb into the 70s and 80s from Tuesday through Friday. Even warmer temperatures are expected for inland areas of the Florida Peninsula and south Texas where lower to even mid-90s are expected.

High temperatures this warm are a good 10 to 30 degrees above average depending on the location, which will set some new daily high-temperature records over the coming days. The warmest temperatures are expected Wednesday and Thursday for most of the region.

**Tuesday high temperature forecast**

![Tuesday high temperature forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Tuesday_high_temperature_forecast_8007c61241.png)

**Wednesday high temperature forecast**

![Wednesday high temperature forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Wednesday_high_temperature_forecast_49b587a3f1.png)

**Thursday high temperature forecast**

![Thursday high temperature forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Thursday_high_temperature_forecast_590a79283b.png)

**Friday high temperature forecast**

![Friday high temperature forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Friday_high_temperature_forecast_9de3d34145.png)

Temperatures begin to cool across Texas and the South on Friday as a cold front moves into the region. This cold front will sweep into the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic by the weekend bringing temperatures back down to where they should be for February.

Thursday high temperature forecast

Record heat is expected for the Southeast with temperatures approaching 30 degrees warmer than average from Texas to the Carolinas. Highs in the 90s are possible for some areas.

Record heat is expected for the Southeast with temperatures approaching 30 degrees warmer than average

Northern Georgia, including the Atlanta area, can expect warm and partly cloudy weather through the upcoming week. Highs in the 60s to low 70s are expected today, with temperatures increasing through the day due to warm, moist air coming from the Gulf of Mexico. 

We expect a warming trend to persist throughout the week as a strengthening ridge builds into the forecast area. Expect highs in the mid to upper 60s on Monday and in the 70s for the rest of the area. Temperatures will remain well-above average into Wednesday and Thursday, likely exceeding 80 across a swath of the forecast area outside of the mountains. Lows will only dip into the 60s across much of the area by mid-week, making this “heat wave” even more impressive.

Temperatures so warm this early in the year could break records. The forecast area typically doesn’t experience nighttime temperatures in the 60s until late spring and early summer. 

Scattered rain chances will increase on Monday night into Tuesday, mainly across the Tennessee River Valley and far northern Georgia. There may again be some rain chances early Thursday closer to the mountains, but nothing that should produce widespread accumulations in the region, unless the ridge trends weaker than currently forecast. 

![Expected high temperatures on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/thursday_highs_01eee2db27.png)

Expected high temperatures on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

![Expected low temperatures on Thursday Night, Feb. 23, 2023](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/thursday_night_lows_49e8f6c21d.png)

Expected low temperatures on Thursday Night, Feb. 23, 2023

![5-Day Rainfall Forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/5_day_rainfall_ab250c0415.png)

5-Day Rainfall Forecast

Timeline:

Today: Partly cloudy skies, highs in the 60s to low 70s, and surface winds will change from southerly to southwesterly.

Monday: Continued warm advection into the forecast area, with low temperatures in the mid-40s across the area and highs in the mid to upper 60s in the far northern tier and in the 70s for the rest of the area. 

Through the week: Warm temperatures with highs reaching the 70s and 80s. Low-end precipitation chances mainly across the Tennessee River Valley and northern Georgia. Some rain chances early Thursday, but nothing resembling the wetter pattern from earlier this winter. 

Expected high temperatures on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

thursday_highs.png

A Taste of Summer: North Georgia’s Toasty Weather Forecast

Ongoing storms early Thursday are expected to continue throughout the day, becoming severe, producing damaging winds, large hail, and creating the potential for strong tornadoes.

The ongoing storms are producing gusty winds and heavy rain from the Ohio Valley to the lower Mississippi River. Most of the storms are currently below severe levels but that will change later Thursday as the atmosphere become more unstable. Gulf moisture continues to feed in ahead of this storm system, paired with favorable jet stream winds and position, which will set the stage for severe storms and tornadoes, especially Thursday afternoon and evening.

The areas of concern extend from the South to the Ohio Valley, including parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The greatest threat for severe weather, including the potential for strong tornadoes, exists in central Tennessee, central and eastern Mississippi, and western Alabama Thursday afternoon and evening. This is where there's a Level 3/5 severe risk or an enhanced severe risk from the Storm Prediction Center.

![Thunderstorm outlook map](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Thunderstorm_outlook_map_e13c803501.jpeg)

If you live within the severe risk area, have a couple of reliable sources to receive weather warnings from and have a plan in place in case a warning is issued for your area.

Thunderstorm outlook map

Severe storms and strong tornadoes are possible for parts of the South Thursday afternoon and evening.

All blogs

Eyeing the potential for a severe thunderstorm and tornado outbreak for the South this week

Blizzard Warning issued for Southern California mountains

Big winter storm to slam Southern California this week

Record heat is expected for the Southeast with temperatures approaching 30 degrees warmer than average

A Taste of Summer: North Georgia’s Toasty Weather Forecast

Severe storms and strong tornadoes possible for parts of the South