JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A large and intense storm system is rolling across the Midwest and Southeast, bringing tornadoes, flooding rains and even heavy snow to the region.
This is the first major storm system of meteorological spring and could be the heaviest snow of the season in parts of Indiana and Michigan
A rough Thursday for the Plains
The storm system powered up on Thursday, bringing widespread severe weather to parts of the Southern Plains and Southeast.
Multiple tornadoes were reported in parts of Texas and Louisiana Thursday night, with fairly widespread wind damage across the same area.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was impacted by the storms, with power outages and wind damage. A 76 mph wind gust was recorded at Dallas Love Field.
System moving east
This same system is now trekking northeastward, impacting much of the Southeast and parts of the Midwest.
Widespread flooding has been reported in sections of southern Illinois and western Kentucky, where 4-6″ of rain may fall.
Tornadoes and severe storms are a concern across a wide swath of the Southeast and Ohio Valley. The highest risk for tornadoes will likely be in central Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
The system will also likely create storms capable of producing damaging winds later today across sections of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.
Widespread winds will also develop ahead of the system, and High Wind Warnings are hoisted for much of Kentucky and Tennessee. Wind gusts over 60 mph will be possible ahead of the storms.
Heavy snow also a concern
The system will not just be a severe weather maker. Heavy snow is likely across parts of the Midwest.
Winter Storm Warnings are posted across sections of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
Some areas are expected to receive 8-12″ of snow in this corridor. This could become the heaviest snow so far this season for cities like Detroit and Kalamazoo, Mich.
The storm will eventually lift into the Northeast this weekend, where heavy snow will be possible.
Some local impacts
While the core of the storm system will stay well away from the region, there will be some impacts.
Winds will remain gusty Friday afternoon and evening, with wind gusts over 35 mph possible.
A cold front attached to the storm system will swing through Friday night into early Saturday. This will bring the chance of a few scattered showers, but the threat for storms has become minimal.
The front will usher in some cooler conditions for the weekend, with highs in the upper 70s.