130 million Americans may see 'biggest' severe weather event of 2025 so far
Millions of Americans will be under the threat of two rounds of severe weather, including tornadoes, this week, with the risk area stretching from the Mississippi to the Ohio Valley.
An expansive, sprawling storm will be front and centre across North America this weekend.
In fact, one media outlet south of the border said it "may unfold into the biggest severe weather and tornado event of the year so far." There could be "dangerous, damaging and possibly life-threatening conditions" in dozens of states.
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It will be the first event this year to possibly impact more than 130 million in the U.S. with dangerous weather, before it moves into Canada on Saturday and Sunday.
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A swarm of severe thunderstorms is forecast to pop up across the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys late Friday afternoon, continuing overnight into early Saturday morning. All hazards are on the table, including supercells, intense wind and tornadoes. Major cities that will be in the path include St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.
Even some non-severe thunderstorm energy could sneak into northern Ontario as the storm tracks northwards on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Saturday into Sunday is when the areas at risk of severe weather shifts, with higher moisture available for a second day of strong thunderstorms.
Storms will start in the Deep South and Upper Midwest in the late morning, once again with all hazards possible. Major cities at risk of seeing severe storms include Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., and Pittsburgh, Pa.
The storms' northward trajectory does put parts of southwestern Ontario at risk for foul weather late Saturday through Sunday. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center's (NWSSPC) convective outlook has placed severe storm potential near Lake Erie.
While it is likely this weekend comes with embedded thunder in southern Ontario, it is too soon to say with any certainty on how severe the thunderstorms and impacts may be. We will be updating the story as we lead up to the event.
With files from Rachel Modestino, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.