A significant severe weather outbreak has gripped a vast stretch of the eastern United States, spanning from Ohio to Alabama, overnight on Tuesday.
This widespread and dangerous weather event is marked by high winds, hail, and tornado threats, posing serious risks to affected regions. Reports indicate widespread storm damage across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
The intensification of a low-pressure area moving into the Midwest has spurred the severe weather conditions. Warm and cold fronts associated with this system have become focal points for severe thunderstorms, some of which have already caused substantial damage.
In Kentucky and West Virginia, severe thunderstorms brought wind gusts of up to 92 mph, leading to Governor Jim Justice declaring an emergency for several counties. Approximately 103,500 customers were left without power in West Virginia, with an additional 77,000 affected in Wisconsin.
The storm system presents a myriad of hazards, ranging from heavy snowfall in Wisconsin and northern Michigan, where blizzard warnings are in place, to the potential for “significant/long-track tornadoes” in Ohio and parts of Kentucky.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has also warned of the possibility of hurricane-force straight-line winds and large hail.
The threat level is categorized as “moderate risk” for severe thunderstorms across much of Ohio and portions of northern Kentucky. This level of risk, rated as Level 4 out of 5, covers major cities such as Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Dayton, and Lexington. Additionally, an “enhanced risk,” rated as Level 3 out of 5, encompasses a broader area, including Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Atlanta.
Tornadoes have already been reported in several states, including Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.
The atmospheric conditions conducive to this severe weather event involve moisture from the Gulf of Mexico flowing north into the Ohio Valley, coupled with increasing wind shear across the affected areas. Wind shear, a critical factor in tornado formation, can lead to the development of long-lasting rotating thunderstorms known as supercells.
Despite challenges posed by infrastructure issues, forecasters are closely monitoring the evolving weather conditions. The storm is expected to morph into an intense snowstorm in New England, bringing damaging winds and heavy snowfall, which may persist into the weekend.
