The FOX Forecast Center is continuing to monitor the potential for a multi-dayĀ severe weatherĀ outbreak that could blast cities across the central and easternĀ U.S.Ā withĀ thunderstormsĀ capable of producing largeĀ hail, damagingĀ windsĀ and even someĀ tornadoes.
Forecasters have been keeping their eyes onĀ computer forecast modelsĀ and now say the threat of severe weather will continue through the weekend, placing tens of millions of people living along the East Coast on alert for powerful thunderstorms by Sunday.
The FOX Forecast Center said it is most concerned about what could potentially take place starting Friday, but severe weather is also possible on Wednesday and Thursday.
Severe weather possible Wednesday, Thursday before potential outbreak
NOAAās Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has highlighted portions of the Plains, Deep South and lower Mississippi Valley, where strong to severe thunderstorms could cause some disruptions.
More than 3 million people in southeasternĀ Oklahoma, northeasternĀ TexasĀ and westernĀ ArkansasĀ have been placed in a level 2 out of 5 risk on the SPCāsĀ severe thunderstorm risk scaleĀ on Wednesday.
Forecasters said thereās still some uncertainty regarding storm coverage, but they warn that storms could produce large hail and damaging wind gusts.
The severe weather threat then shifts to portions of easternĀ MississippiĀ andĀ Alabama, including cities likeĀ Montgomery,Ā TuscaloosaĀ andĀ Birmingham, on Thursday.
Currently, that region is in a level 1 out of 5 threat.
Severe weather outbreak could kick off Friday
The FOX Forecast Center said the potential multiday severe weather outbreak could kick off on Friday, with much of the activity picking up during the afternoon and continuing into the overnight hours as the storm system intensifies across the central U.S.
Forecasters said a rapidly strengtheningĀ low-pressure systemĀ will track across the central Plains, dragging a strongĀ cold frontĀ along with it.
Ahead of that, moisture from the Gulf will be pulled northward into the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley and maybe even as far north asĀ Iowa,Ā WisconsinĀ andĀ Illinois.
The FOX Forecast Center said that from the Ark-La-Tex region into the lower Mississippi Valley, more moisture will combine withĀ wind shearĀ ā the change in wind speed and direction with height ā creating a favorable setup for all severe weather threats.
In addition, someĀ supercell thunderstormsĀ and a fast-movingĀ squall lineĀ are also possible, bringing the threats of damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.
Some of those tornadoes could be strong (EF-2 or higher).
Currently, it looks like cities such asĀ St. Louis,Ā MemphisĀ inĀ Tennessee,Ā andĀ Little RockĀ in Arkansas could see the highest risk.
The SPC placed more than 8.5 million people from northwestern Mississippi to southern Illinois in a level 3 out of 5 threat.
Severe weather threat extends from Gulf Coast to Great Lakes on Saturday
The powerful storm system will continue to move off to the east on Saturday, placing tens of millions of people from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes at risk of strong to severe thunderstorms.
Questions remain with regard to how theĀ atmosphereĀ will destabilize on Saturday, particularly in areas farther north.
However, the FOX Forecast Center said a corridor of rich Gulf moisture is expected to set up from central and southern Mississippi into northern Alabama, creating a favorable environment for severe weather ahead of the surging cold front.
With some strong wind shear in place, conditions will allow for the development of supercell thunderstorms and the eventual development of another fast-moving squall line.
Thunderstorms could again produce hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, and torrential rain could lead to someĀ floodingĀ issues.
Currently, the SPC has placed more than 14 million people from Mississippi to the Tennessee Valley in a level 3 out of 5 risk of severe weather.
This includes cities likeĀ AtlantaĀ and Montgomery, Alabama.
New area of concern for East Coast on Sunday
A new area of concern has emerged for tens of millions of people along the East Coast, including the heavilyĀ traveledĀ Interstate 95 corridor from theĀ SoutheastĀ andĀ mid-AtlanticĀ to theĀ Northeast.
āSundayās severe threat, while expansive, the threat for hail and tornadoes drops and is just a damaging wind threat,ā the FOX Forecast Center said.
The SPC has placed more than 41 million people from theĀ FloridaĀ Panhandle toĀ New JerseyĀ in a level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather on Sunday.
This includes many major cities, such asĀ Savannah,Ā Georgia;Ā Charleston,Ā South Carolina;Ā Raleigh,Ā North Carolina;Ā Richmond,Ā Virginia;Ā Washington;Ā BaltimoreĀ andĀ Philadelphia.