Updated Oct. 20, 2019 10:28 AM
Severe thunderstorms with the potential for isolated tornadoes will threaten the south-central United States after dark on Sunday.
The necessary ingredients for thunderstorm development are not expected to come together until Sunday evening, leaving the afternoon hours dry, sunny and very warm across the region.
However, weather conditions are predicted to change rapidly after sunset.
A cold front will collide with the warm, moist air in the southern Plains on Sunday evening, and once this occurs, severe thunderstorms will erupt, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.
Thunderstorms are expected to ignite across southeastern Kansas, central and eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas during the first half of Sunday night.
While these thunderstorms may initially be discrete, they are expected to congeal into a powerful line of thunderstorms, or squall line, as the night progresses.
This squall line is likely to sweep through southern Missouri, Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas during the second half of Sunday night.
"The main threats with these storms will be damaging winds, large hail and even isolated tornadoes," Gilbert said.
The tornado risk is likely to be highest during the first half of the night.
RELATED:
Since the severe thunderstorms will be ongoing after dark, it is a good idea to keep cell phones charged with the volume turned up and severe weather alerts enabled before heading to bed. This will allow you to be notified if a severe thunderstorm or tornado is heading for your community and you are advised to seek proper shelter.
Residents in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Springfield, Missouri; Little Rock and Fayetteville, Arkansas; Dallas and Tyler, Texas; and surrounding communities may want to consider taking such a precaution.
Straight-line wind gusts up to an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 70 mph can toss around loose outdoor items, such as lightweight furniture or fall decorations, that are not brought inside or secured beforehand.
Tree damage and power outages can also occur in such winds.
The thunderstorms will move along at a quick enough pace to limit concerns for flash flooding.
However, downpours produced by the thunderstorms will drastically reduce visibility on the roadways, including along sections of interstates 20, 30, 35, 40, 44 and 49.
"A similar atmospheric set up will exist for Monday as the cold front continues to the east and pushes into the Southeast," Gilbert said.
Monday's threat zone is forecast to stretch across the lower Mississippi Valley and into a portion of the Deep South.
The line of thunderstorms that develops on Sunday night is expected to remain intense as it crosses portions of eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee and Mississippi, northern Louisiana and eastern Texas on Monday morning.
Commutes around Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and Monroe, Louisiana; may be slowed as the stormy weather pushes through during the morning hours.
Heavy to locally severe thunderstorms will continue to spread eastward throughout the day on Monday, stretching from the central Gulf Coast states to perhaps as far north as the Ohio Valley.
Drier, cooler air will sweep in from west to east across the South behind the thunderstorms, aiding any cleanup operations that may be needed.
Download the free AccuWeather app to see the latest forecast and advisories for your region. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
No comments:
Post a Comment