Forecasters Issue Highest Risk Alert for Tornadoes in the South

Long-lasting severe storms at a level typically experienced only once or twice in a lifetime could sweep across the a vast swath of the South on Saturday, forecasters have warned.

The Weather Service also issued the highest risk alert for tornadoes in some areas of the Midwest starting Friday night.

“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the Weather Service warned residents in parts of western Illinois. “Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur.”

An “extremely dangerous” tornado moving at 55 miles per hour was confirmed in eastern Missouri, the Weather Service said.

Tornado warnings were in effect into Saturday in many parts of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee, according to the Weather Service.

These storms are all connected to the intense system wreaking havoc across the Central United States, which over the last day has brought tornadoes across the Midwest and dust storms and wildfires to the Plains.

Saturday’s storms are forecast to move extremely fast and may catch people off guard. They have the potential to form numerous significant tornadoes, some of which could be potentially violent, damaging hurricane-force (greater than 74 miles per hour) winds and golf ball- or even baseball-sized hail.

The most dangerous threat of tornadoes would likely be across Louisiana and Mississippi late morning into early afternoon on Saturday. From the afternoon into the evening, the storms are expected to sweep across Alabama and maybe into Tennessee before crossing into Georgia and northern Florida overnight.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, Saturday is likely to be the third time in history that the Storm Prediction Center has issued a high-risk warning on the second day of a storm. Central Mississippi and Alabama face the highest risk level, 5, in the center’s rating system. The Gulf Coast states and Georgia face a high risk level of 4 on Saturday.

Storms at this highest level of alert can often produce intense long-track tornadoes, meaning they stay on the ground for a very long time. A slow storm will typically only affect one or two communities, but a faster-moving storm such as this one can cross multiple states, leaving a long trail of damage.

Tornadoes typically occur across the South from the middle of March until late April, when the risk shifts to the Plains.

The threat of severe weather is expected to continue into the weekend, as the front pushes eastward.

“There is a slight chance of severe weather anywhere from north Florida all the way up along the East Coast to the Washington, D.C., area, Philadelphia and just outside New York City,” Mr. Oravec said. “It’s not going to be as great a risk as areas farther to the west.”

The storm is expected to move offshore on Monday.

Hank Sanders contributed reporting.