A rare storm setup is expected to cause severe thunderstorms across the Southeast and Gulf Coast, with more than 23 million people in the path of multiple waves of damaging winds, hail, and strong tornadoes. The highest risks are in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi, with a large area of intense thunderstorms forecast to advance through northeast Louisiana to southwest Georgia. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a moderate risk of severe storms, a level 4 out of 5, for a region that does not typically see such severe thunderstorms during June. The combination of an unusually strong subtropical jet stream and high amounts of available energy will produce explosive thunderstorms.
As mentioned in a news article on NBC News, a rare storm setup is expected to bring severe weather to parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, putting more than 23 million people at risk. Multiple waves of severe thunderstorms, capable of producing damaging winds, destructive hail, and strong tornadoes, are forecasted to hit Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi, among other states.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a moderate risk of severe storms, a level 4 out of 5 on their scale, for a region that typically does not experience such severe thunderstorms in June. The greatest concentration of severe thunderstorms in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions usually occurs during the early spring months, like March or April. However, the combination of an unusually strong subtropical jet stream and high amounts of available energy in the form of warmth and moisture is expected to produce explosive thunderstorms.
As the day progresses, Alabama and Georgia are expected to join the severe weather threat, with the greatest chance of storms occurring in the afternoon into the evening hours. The highly traveled I-20 corridor, including Birmingham and Atlanta, could be affected by these storms and see impacts such as possible tornadoes, damaging hail, and gusty winds.
As mentioned in a news article on the report, a large area of intense thunderstorms producing damaging winds is forecasted to advance through northeast Louisiana to southwest Georgia throughout the day, with winds in excess of 80 mph. This includes the possibility of a derecho, a particularly intense line of severe thunderstorms that travels hundreds of miles, producing damaging winds along its entire path.
The greatest risk of tornadoes will be more focused Wednesday afternoon in central/eastern Alabama and southwest Georgia, including the cities of Montgomery, Alabama; Dothan, Alabama; and Columbus, Georgia. Hail could also exceed 3 inches in diameter, the size of a baseball, across all of these areas.
Severe thunderstorm watches were already up by sunrise on Wednesday across parts of Arkansas and Mississippi, marking the start of multiple rounds of storms projected to blast through the regions over the next 24 hours.
To wrap everything up, a rare storm setup is expected to bring volatile weather conditions to parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, putting more than 23 million people at risk. The combination of an unusually strong subtropical jet stream and high amounts of available energy is expected to produce explosive thunderstorms, capable of producing damaging winds, destructive hail, and strong tornadoes. It is important for residents in affected areas to stay informed and take necessary precautions to stay safe during these severe weather conditions.
