Severe spring storms continue across the Southern Plains
Meteorologist
Saturday, April 30, 2016, 2:10 PM - After a day of severe weather across the Southern Plains, the severe weather threat for Saturday moves eastward into the Lower Mississippi Valley as an active period of spring storms continues.
Stay updated with a full list of watches and warnings here.
Reports of tornadoes, massive hail, damaging winds and flooding downpours dotted the Southern Plains on Friday afternoon and evening as storms broke out through southern Okalhoma and across the ArkLaTex region.
Potential tornado damage was reported southwest of Oklahoma City, as well as with a storm in northeastern Texas. Hail up to grapefruit size pummeled the region as well.
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In tornado damage area S of Ninnekah OK.Clearly have a tornado path of damage back SW of HWY 81.#okwx @NWSNorman pic.twitter.com/gK3JIcffvB
— Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) April 30, 2016
Nearly GRAPEFRUIT SIZE HAIL north of Lake Lawtonka at 3:35pm. Photo: Kristal Moreland Cooper #okwx #hail @NWSNorman pic.twitter.com/ooGAdvDYLq
— Katie Western (@KatieTheWXLady) April 29, 2016
On Saturday, the storm threat shifts into the Mississippi Valley. With an unstable airmass in place and shear provided by the upper low continuing to track east, severe storms will be possible over a large region.
Along the Gulf Coast, moist, warm air and low-level wind shear will keep the threat of damaging winds - and the possibility of tornadoes - going through the afternoon hours. While the line of storms should persist into Alabama by evening, relatively drier dewpoints should inhibit the risk for severe weather as the evening progresses.
Further north, storms will fire up along the cold front pushing out of the Plains. While isolated large hail is a risk for the region, the severe potential is limited by widespread rain and cloud cover ahead of the surface low pressure.
Tornado 101: Everything you need to know about staying safe
The risk diminishes on Sunday as the atmospheric environment becomes somewhat less favorable for severe weather to develop, but a front draped from the Mid-Atlantic through southern Texas may still serve as a focal point for storms. Hail and gusty winds would be the principal threats from these storms.
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Be sure to check back for updates as we continue to monitor the forecast.