At least nine states in the central US and three states in the South are under the threat of severe weather. Seven states could see potential flooding, with seven states under red flag alerts. The severe weather threat continues into Saturday.
Multi-day severe weather threat for central and eastern US
The threat of severe weather over the central US and parts of the East will continue at least until Saturday, according to the latest forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS).
Thursday severe weather outlook: Level 4 warning
An expansive threat of severe weather hovers over at least nine states on Thursday, bringing the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and likely tornadoes, the Weather Channel reported.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) of the NOAA has issued four levels of severe weather warnings for the central US on Thursday on two separate fronts.
A Level 4 moderate risk of severe weather has been issued over Eastern South Dakota, southeastern North Dakota, and western Minnesota for Thursday.
A Level 4 Severe Weather Risk is defined as widespread severe and long-lived, intense storms with widespread wind damage, destructive hail, and strong tornadoes.
A Level 3 enhanced risk of severe weather has been issued over north-central Kansas, central and eastern Nebraska, southwestern Iowa, eastern South Dakota, southeastern North Dakota, and most of Minnesota.
A Level 3 Severe Weather Risk is defined as numerous, widespread severe, and intense storms with the possibility of likely significant wind damage, large hail between 1-2 inches, and a few isolated tornadoes.
Two storm fronts bring severe weather risk
Over a second storm front, a Level 1 risk over eastern Louisiana, most of Mississippi, and southwestern Alabama.
A Level 2 risk for central and northern Kansas, central and eastern Nebraska, central and western Iowa, central and eastern South Dakota; central and eastern North Dakota, all of Minnesota, and northwestern Wisconsin.
A Level 1 risk through western and northern Texas, western Oklahoma, most of Kansas, northwestern Missouri, central and eastern Nebraska, most of Iowa, central and eastern North Dakota and South Dakota, and much of Wisconsin.
Flood warnings and watches
The NWS is warning of heavy rain with the possibility of flash flooding over eastern Montana; western, central, and eastern North Dakota; throughout Minnesota, eastern South Dakota, and northwestern Iowa.
The NWS issued flood warnings over eastern North Dakota and northeastern Minnesota and flood watches over eastern North Dakota, into central and northern Minnesota.
Severe weather outlook for Friday and Saturday
According to the current projections by the NWS and SPC, Friday will see a potential for severe weather over portions of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan.
On Saturday, a potential for severe weather over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, with thunderstorms for most of the eastern US.
Red flag alerts in central US and West
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued red flag warnings in the West and Central US due to critical fire weather conditions. Red flag warnings over central and eastern New Mexico, extreme western and northwestern Texas, central and eastern Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, western Kansas, and southwestern Nebraska, as well as in the East over northeastern Michigan.
