First Alert Day Friday: Thunderstorms are likely A First Alert Day for thunderstorms has been issued for Friday, with heavy rain expected to be the primary threat throughout the day. Late evening storms could reach strong to severe levels, though the overall severe storm threat remains conditional due to the position of the warm front. The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a level 1 out of 5 threat level for southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa. Two rounds of showers and thunderstorms are anticipated to affect the region on Friday. The first round will occur in the morning hours, with storms not expected to be severe but capable of producing heavy rainfall in isolated areas. A brief break from storms is expected in the mid-afternoon. The second round of storms will arrive after 6 p.m., with the potential for a few strong to severe thunderstorms. The main concern for both rounds of activity will be heavy rainfall, with areas south of Interstate 90 possibly receiving 1 to 1.75 inches of rain. Pounding rain and minor flooding could occur if thunderstorms become stationary. Hail is expected to be the primary severe threat in the evening if storms develop, while wind speeds could approach severe criteria in northeastern Iowa. While the tornado threat is low, it cannot be completely ruled out. A minor winter mix, including the possibility of light snow or freezing rain, is expected late Friday night into early Saturday morning. Skies will clear throughout Saturday, with high temperatures in the low 40s. Late spring temperatures will return on Sunday and Monday, with highs in the 60s. However, wintry conditions are expected to return to the region by next Wednesday, with several chances of light snow forecasted late next week.#storm_prediction_center #interstate_90 #tornado_threat #severe_storm_threat #first_alert_day
Tornado threats are escalating for millions across the South as severe storms intensify, marking the start of the spring severe weather season. Forecasters have raised the severe storm risk to Level 3 out of 5 for a narrow region in western Oklahoma and parts of northern Texas, where storms could generate EF-2 or stronger tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has also highlighted Friday as the day with the highest risk of large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes. A multi-day severe weather threat is affecting Texas, the Plains, and the Midwest as thunderstorms develop across the central U.S. The SPC has identified Friday as the peak day for severe conditions, with the dryline—a boundary between dry air from the Rockies and humid air from the Gulf—playing a key role. This dryline is expected to shift eastward, increasing the risk of intense storms. Lower-level winds, reaching 5,000 feet above the surface, are forecast to strengthen near Kansas City and toward Oklahoma City and Dallas, creating favorable conditions for supercells and heightened tornado threats. Hail and lightning have already impacted areas like Barnhart, Missouri, and Crowley, Texas, with severe weather continuing through the week. The FOX Forecast Center warns of a significant tornado threat, with storms potentially reaching EF-2 strength or stronger. The SPC’s new Conditional Intensity (CIG) tools are helping forecasters identify high-intensity threats even when storm coverage is scattered. Severe weather is expected to persist through Saturday morning, affecting much of the Central and Southern Plains and the Mississippi Valley. While tornadoes remain the primary concern, large hail—exceeding 3 inches in diameter—will also pose a major risk, particularly on the northern side of the storm system.#storm_prediction_center #severe_weather #fox_forecast_center #tornado_threat #dryline
