More than 55 million Americans across the Midwest and Mississippi Valley are in the threat zone for a brewing severe weather outbreak expected to develop on Monday, with the potential for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
This comes after days of severe weather that impacted the South and central U.S., resulting in numerous tornadoes, giant hail, and vicious winds.
One confirmed, monstrous EF-4 tornado tore through Enid, Oklahoma, on Thursday evening, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.
Local officials reported significant damage on the city’s southern side, particularly in the Gray Ridge area.
After the tornado passed, officials said some residents were trapped in homes and storm shelters.
Enid Mayor David Mason told FOX Weather on Friday that at least 40 homes were damaged in the Gray Ridge area.
“I am very grateful to report that while homes have sustained significant damage, there have been no fatalities and only minor injuries,” Mason said.
Severe weather tore through Texas neighborhoods as well, leaving a trail of destruction that displaced 20 families and caused several injuries. Wise County Judge J.D. Clark confirmed one fatality resulted from the storms.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Monday’s outbreak could produce dangerous supercells capable of all severe hazards, like large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a level 3 out of 5 risk of severe storm threat across parts of the Midwest and Mississippi Valley, including eight states such as Missouri, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Forecasters say St. Louis, MO, could see some of the greatest impacts.
Meanwhile, a broader level 2 out of 5 risk stretches from the Central Plains through the Ohio Valley and into the Southeast, including major cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Little Rock.
The FOX Forecast Center says the severe weather outbreak is expected to develop Monday afternoon ahead of a cold front and dryline.
These storms will move into warm, moist, and unstable air, an environment that is perfect for severe weather to ignite.
At the same time, the system developing Sunday across the central Plains will quickly move towards the Northeast, pulling a surface low into the Upper Mississippi Valley.
As this occurs, a warm front will rapidly form northward, fueled by a strong low-level jet stream, leading to widespread rainfall.
This may limit how far north the severe weather will develop.
Forecasters say the intensity of Monday’s severe storms will depend on how Sunday’s storms unfold.
If the storms are not as widespread across the Plains, more moisture and instability may stream into the Lower Mississippi Valley, potentially supporting a higher-end severe weather event on Monday.
That said, severe storms are expected to continue further south from Texas to the Tennessee Valley, where a Level 2 out of 5 severe threat exists for Tuesday.
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