Americans from Texas to Iowa face tornado threat Friday as spring storm season begins A growing concern is emerging as the first major storm system approaches the U.S. heartland, potentially bringing strong tornadoes to millions of people across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and neighboring states. The National Weather Service warned that scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to develop late Thursday in the Texas Panhandle, western Oklahoma, and parts of Kansas. These storms could produce large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes, according to forecasters. The most intense storms are anticipated to form on Friday, targeting Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and nearby regions. Melissa Mayes, deputy director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency in Oklahoma, noted that this event marks the beginning of the spring storm season, with people starting to take the threat more seriously. Over 6 million Americans are at the highest risk of severe weather on Friday, including major metropolitan areas like Kansas City, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. An additional 22 million people in areas such as St. Louis, Omaha, and Milwaukee are at a slightly lower risk. Meteorologists explained that the storm system is driven by a clash between warm air moving north from the Gulf Coast and colder air from Canada, which is carried by cold fronts. This setup is also expected to bring unusually warm temperatures to parts of the eastern U.S. by the weekend. Federal forecasters predicted temperatures could be 20-30 degrees above average, with 80s Fahrenheit reaching as far north as the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions. For example, Louisville, Kentucky, is forecast to hit 81 degrees Fahrenheit by Friday, while Atlanta could reach 82 degrees by Saturday. Washington, D.C.#oklahoma #texas #kansas #missouri #washington_county_emergency_management_agency
