Severe Weather Alert: Tornado Warnings Detected—Find Out If Your Area Is at Risk

Communities from Florida to New York are under the gun today as the powerful March 13–17 storm complex continues to unleash damaging winds, torrential rains and a fast-evolving outbreak of tornado warnings across the Eastern Seaboard. The National Weather Service (NWS) has already confirmed at least one EF-1 tornado with 105 mph winds in Missouri and warns that similar spin-ups are possible east of the Appalachians as the system taps Gulf moisture and a vigorous jet-stream impulse. Why today’s setup is dangerous 1. A ribbon of 60-70 knot low-level shear is overlapping surface dew points in the upper 60s, creating an environment ripe for discrete supercells capable of producing tornadoes after dark. 2. The storm’s potent cold front is racing eastward at highway speeds, leaving residents with less lead time once warnings are issued. 3. Soil saturation from days of heavy rain is increasing tree-fall risk, amplifying potential power outages and road closures. Latest tornado warnings and watches • 8 p.m. ET: Tornado watch extended to cover 40 million people from eastern North Carolina through coastal Virginia; warnings have already been issued for Craven, Beaufort and Pamlico counties as radar indicates rotation. • 11 p.m. ET: NWS Mount Holly triggers a rare nocturnal tornado warning for Burlington and Camden Counties, New Jersey; residents reported roaring winds and transformers blowing seconds after phones blared the Wireless Emergency Alert. • Midnight: Tornado watch shifts north into Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania as the squall line bows; Wilmington’s wind gusts already exceed 60 mph, and Doppler velocity shows embedded mesovortices. Safety actions to take now • Have multiple alert methods: enable WEA on your phone, keep a NOAA Weather Radio on battery backup, and follow your local NWS office on social media. • Identify a safe room on the lowest floor, away from windows. If you live in a mobile home, arrange shelter in a neighbor’s site-built structure or a community storm center before warnings are issued. • Wear hard-soled shoes and keep wallets, keys and helmets within arm’s reach; cuts and head injuries are the leading causes of tornado-related ER visits. • After the storm, avoid downed lines and report gas odors immediately. Travel and power impacts Thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled at ATL, CLT, PHL and the New York metro airports as wind shear exceeds FAA thresholds. Road crews from the Carolinas to New Jersey are on standby for debris removal, while utilities pre-position line workers for anticipated outages exceeding 500,000 customers. Amtrak has already suspended portions of its Northeast Corridor service through Tuesday morning. What’s next Forecast models converge on a secondary low forming off New England by dawn Wednesday. As it rapidly deepens, the severe-weather threat will finally shift offshore, but a wrap-around wind field could gust to 50 mph from Boston to Bangor, prolonging outages and coastal flooding concerns. Bottom line If you are under a tornado watch tonight, act as though a warning will arrive: charge devices, review your plan and stay weather-aware. With fast-moving storms and nightfall reducing visibility, your readiness in the next few hours will make all the difference when seconds count.