A dangerous spring severe weather pattern will threaten millions across the Plains and parts of the Deep South starting Saturday, bringing days of heavy rain that could cause flash flooding, damaging wind gusts, large hail, and even a few tornadoes.
The weekend threat stretches across the Southern Plains from South Texas to southern Kansas.
A powerful storm system will move out of the Rockies and sweep into the Southern Plains by Saturday, drawing in warm air from the Gulf that will fuel severe thunderstorms beginning in the afternoon.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the primary threats will be damaging winds and large hail, though a few tornadoes are possible.
NOAA has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms from the Big Bend of Texas north through much of the Texas Panhandle, including Amarillo.
As Saturday’s storms exit, another more intense system will follow closely on its heels in a parade of severe weather set to blast the region through Tuesday.
Supercells capable of producing large hail and tornadoes are possible beginning Sunday afternoon.
A Level 2 threat extends from central and southern Texas through Oklahoma and into Kansas, including the Dallas, San Angelo, Oklahoma City, and Wichita metro areas.
The FOX Forecast Center warned of an increasing flash flood threat through the weekend as storms move over the same areas repeatedly.
“With ongoing drought conditions in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, several days of heavy rain could also lead to flash flooding,” the Forecast Center said.
A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat covers parts of North Texas, including Dallas, southeastern Oklahoma, and western Arkansas.
On Monday, the storm system is expected to accelerate northward, expanding risks across a much larger area from the southern Plains into the Upper Midwest.
Another, more powerful storm system is forecast to move into the Plains on Tuesday, where a more significant severe weather event could unfold from the Southern Plains to the Lower Missouri Valley beginning in the afternoon.
