Storms Severe as March Continues to Roar

The third round of severe storms this month is in the forecast as March comes in like a lion and continues to roar.

Another round of severe weather is predicted in the South, Midwest, and East Sunday into Monday, with widespread damaging winds and a few tornadoes threatening from Texas to the East Coast.

Winter Storm Iona

“A widespread damaging wind event with some tornado threat is likely late Sunday afternoon through Sunday night from northeast Texas to southwest Lower Michigan,” according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Sunday afternoon, numerous thunderstorms will spread across parts ot the Midwest to the South in the form of a squall line, which is a long line of severe thunderstorms.

Damaging winds are predicted to be over 75 mph in the squall line, and locally higher damaging winds threaten from Evansville, Indiana to west of Memphis, Tennessee. Some embedded tornadoes are likely, and there is a chance for an EF2 or greater tornado.

Sunday night, the squall line will surge east across the Ohio Valley, lower Mississippi Valley, and Tennessee Valley.

On Monday, a cold front from the Great Lakes will surge east, causing thunderstorms with damaging winds across much of the East, from North Florida to the Northwest.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center highlighted part of the mid-Atlantic states to the Carolinas for severe weather.

Damaging winds could extend through the Appalachians and the entire Northeast throughout the day and into Monday night.

Tornadoes are possible Monday, either embedded in the squall line or in discrete rotating thunderstorms that may flare up beforehand.

Violent DC Storm

The National Weather Service forecasts an intense storm system with severe thunderstorms on Monday, accompanied by violent winds, hail, and tornadoes.

Declaring a Level 4 out of 5 storm risk, meaning widespread severe storms are expected. This is the first time this risk level has been issued in over two years.

After the thunderstorm threat passes, temperatures will drop in the evening, and winds will continue. Rain could turn to snow before the storm ends Monday night. Temperatures are expected to fall from 70 in the afternoon into the 30s at night.

Michigan State of Emergency

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center due to “the threat of significant weather impacts” across the state.

The CBS News Detroit NEXT Weather Team declared Sunday a NEXT Weather Alert Day due to “expected high winds and thunderstorms in the southeast region of Michigan.”

A wind advisory is in effect along the south of Interstate 69, including metro Detroit down to the Ohio border, until midnight.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula could see up to three feet of snow, severe icing, and blizzard conditions.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties until 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Alger, Delta, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties remain under alert until 8 a.m. Tuesday.

A portion of the Lower Peninsula is under an ice storm warning until 8 a.m. Monday.

Sources:

The Weather Channel: Another Severe Weather Outbreak With Widespread Damaging Winds, Tornadoes In Midwest, South, East Sunday and Monday
The Washington Post: Dangerous storm outbreak could slam D.C. area Monday; tornadoes possible
CBS News: Whitmer activates State of Emergency Operation Center amid severe weather threat in Michigan

Featured Image Courtesy of Ryan Wilson’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License