A powerful, tornado-generating storm system that has ravaged parts of the United States for days showed no signs of relenting Monday night, as severe weather continued to menace the central region.
The Overview:
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed at least four tornadoes in Oklahoma and Nebraska as a vast swath of the central U.S. remained under threat. By Monday night, more than 8.7 million people across six states were under tornado watches, with active warnings issued for portions of Arkansas and Missouri.
- Since the outbreak began last Friday, at least 28 fatalities have been reported nationwide.
- Tens of thousands remain without power, including approximately 52,000 in Missouri, over 35,000 in Arkansas, and nearly 29,000 in Oklahoma, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us.
The Threat Ahead:
Forecasters warned that the volatile system would continue its assault Tuesday, bringing the potential for destructive winds and strong tornadoes across parts of the Mid-South, the Tennessee Valley, and the lower Ohio River Valley.
- The NWS cautioned that “heavy to excessive rainfall” could lead to flooding in areas of the lower Ohio Valley.
- The Storm Prediction Center elevated the threat level to moderate — a 4 out of 5 on its severe weather scale — across the southern Plains and western Mississippi Valley.
- Forecasters highlighted the likelihood of all severe weather hazards, including large hail, damaging winds, and a few strong tornadoes.
Simultaneously, a moderate risk of flash flooding was in effect across northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, with a broader slight risk extending through the Mississippi Valley.
- “Storms are expected to expand in coverage and may train over the same areas,” the NWS warned, with rainfall totals reaching 4 to 5 inches overnight in some locations.
Key Area of Concern:
Kentucky has been among the hardest hit, with at least 19 lives lost in recent days due to tornado-spawning storms. The NWS office in Louisville warned that additional rounds of severe weather were possible overnight and into Tuesday evening.
- The forecast includes the possibility of “damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes,” according to the Louisville NWS.
Wider Implications:
Scientists continue to highlight the link between climate change and increasingly extreme weather. Rising global temperatures are fueling more intense precipitation events, which in turn can amplify the severity and frequency of storms — including those capable of producing tornadoes.
Further Reading:
Explore how climate change may be reshaping the nature and intensity of tornado outbreaks across the U.S.
