Extreme Weather Warning: Powerful Storms Trigger Tornadoes—Track Paths & Safety Updates Now

High-Impact Severe-Weather Pattern Taking Shape Through Early Next Week Forecasters warn that a sprawling spring storm system will churn out multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms, large hail and potentially violent tornadoes from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes from today through at least Tuesday. An “enhanced risk” — level 3 of 5 on the Storm Prediction Center scale — covers much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri on Friday and Saturday, with Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Dallas–Fort Worth all in the bull’s-eye. Why the Setup Is So Volatile A stalled frontal boundary draped across the central United States is acting as a highway for successive low-pressure waves. Gulf of Mexico moisture riding north of the boundary will collide with unusually cold air aloft, creating explosive instability. Wind shear — the change in wind speed and direction with height — is forecast to exceed 50 kt, a classic ingredient for long-lived supercells capable of producing strong, fast-moving tornadoes and giant hailstones larger than golf balls. Who Faces the Greatest Tornado Risk • Southern Plains: Late-afternoon supercells are most likely across north-central Texas into central Oklahoma on Friday. • Central Plains and Midwest: By Saturday the threat shifts into eastern Kansas, western Missouri and southern Iowa as overnight “QLCS” squall lines race east. • Mississippi & Ohio Valleys: Lingering fronts early next week could trigger additional tornado clusters from Arkansas to Illinois. More than six million residents are currently included in the highest categorical risk outlined by the SPC. Timing at a Glance (all times local) • Friday 3 p.m.–10 p.m.: Discrete supercells fire along the dryline from Wichita Falls to Oklahoma City, then race NE at 40-60 mph. • Friday overnight: Storms merge into a damaging wind complex crossing Kansas and Missouri. • Saturday afternoon: New storms regenerate along the warm front in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. • Sunday–Tuesday: The boundary stalls from Arkansas to Indiana, setting the stage for additional tornado-producing storms during the evening hours. March Tornadoes Are Rising Historically, March averages about 80 U.S. tornadoes, but three of the past four Marches have topped 200, suggesting an uptick in early-season volatility. Warm Gulf waters, a persistent La Niña pattern and stronger spring jet streams have all been cited as contributors by NOAA researchers. Flash-Flood Concerns Training storms could dump 3–5 inches of rain from northern Texas through southern Illinois, triggering flash-flood emergencies where soils are already saturated. Never drive across a flooded roadway — “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” How to Prepare Now 1. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts and NOAA Weather Radio. 2. Identify a sturdy shelter room on the lowest level, away from windows. 3. Keep helmets, sturdy shoes and hard-soled boots in that shelter. 4. Stock a minimum three-day supply of medications, flashlights and backup phone chargers. 5. Review school, workplace and travel tornado plans; most tornado deaths occur in vehicles or mobile homes. Safety During the Storm • At home: Get under a heavy table or in a small interior bathroom; crouch low and protect your head. • On the road: If no shelter is near, abandon vehicles and lie flat in a low ditch, covering your head. • After the storm: Watch for downed power lines and report gas leaks immediately. Bottom Line A prolonged, early-season tornado outbreak appears increasingly likely across the Central United States over the next several days. Residents from Texas to Illinois should stay weather-aware, have multiple ways to receive warnings and act immediately when a tornado warning is issued. Vigilance now can save lives when seconds count.