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Severe weather is impacting Easter weekend travel as powerful storms sweep across a wide swath of the nation, from the Southern states to the Northeast. The extensive weather system is expected to disrupt holiday travel plans for millions.
Widespread Storms Disrupt Holiday Weekend
The same vigorous weather pattern that unleashed severe conditions across the South and Midwest on Friday is forecast to continue its path, threatening further disruptions. Friday’s storms included reports of hail as large as baseballs in southern Wisconsin.
Saturday’s Severe Weather Outlook
Approximately 14 million individuals in a zone stretching from Texas to Ohio are under threat of severe weather on Saturday. Cities including Dallas, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio, are within the at-risk area. The primary hazards anticipated are sizable hail, destructive wind gusts, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
Saturday morning observations revealed a broad band of showers and thunderstorms extending from Texas towards the Northeast. The most intense storm development is anticipated to commence in the late afternoon over central Texas and persist for several hours, subsequently expanding eastward throughout the night. Central Texas, particularly areas around Abilene and San Angelo, faces an elevated risk of the most potent storms, with a heightened probability of very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
Travel Impacts: Flight Delays and Cancellations
The impacts on travel are already being felt. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas has experienced flight disruptions Saturday morning, with FlightAware.com reporting 47 flight cancellations and 263 delays.
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Flooding Concerns Across Central States
Following heavy rainfall on Friday that resulted in flooding, the threat of further flooding persists Saturday. A moderate risk of flash flooding is in effect from north-central Texas to Missouri. Flood Alerts are in place for approximately 10 million people from Texas to Illinois, encompassing cities such as St. Louis, Missouri; Springfield, Ohio; and Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These alerts are active through Sunday evening, as rainfall totals are projected to range from 3 to 5 inches, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 7 inches.
Easter Sunday Forecast: Thunderstorms and Tornado Risk
On Easter Sunday, 11 million people face the risk of thunderstorms from east Texas to Illinois, including residents of St. Louis, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Shreveport, Louisiana. While thunderstorms are expected, there is also a potential for tornado activity, with the greatest risk of tornadoes and damaging winds focused over Missouri and into western Illinois.
Temperature Contrast Across the Nation
This significant weather pattern is also generating a stark contrast in temperatures across the country this weekend. The Rockies, Plains, and Southwest regions will experience temperatures 10 to 30 degrees below average, with daily highs ranging from the 40s to 70s.
Conversely, from the South to the Northeast, temperatures are expected to climb 10 to 20 degrees above average, reaching highs in the 70s to 90s. Several locations, including Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina, are anticipating the possibility of record high temperatures this afternoon.
Above-average temperatures are expected to persist across the Southeast, remaining approximately 10 to 15 degrees above typical levels through Sunday and into the beginning of next week.