A severe storm warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) was issued on Friday for over 45 million Americans from northeast Texas to the Ohio River Valley, signaling potential hazards that could include damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, and flash flooding.
Newsweek has reached out to the NWS for further comment by email on Saturday.
The threat comes during an active storm season, which has already resulted in widespread power outages, property destruction, and significant disruptions in multiple states.
Weather events of this strength typically result in widespread utility outages, disrupted travel and freight, and suspensions in economic activity due to road closures, flooding, and property damage.
Recent storms this year have created cascading impacts, including highway shutdowns, delayed deliveries, and increased emergency management costs. For agricultural states in the storm's path, there is a risk of crop damage during harvest season as well as increased insurance claims. These disruptions often translate to higher consumer costs and strain on local economies.
The severe weather threat is forecast to begin Saturday, impacting millions from Texas through Ohio and into neighboring states.
According to the NWS, the most significant hazards include winds exceeding 70 miles per hour, possible tornadoes, and large hail.
Cities expected to face the highest risk are Shreveport, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Springfield, Missouri. The threat is set to shift to the southern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina by Sunday, and then spread further into the Northeast early next week.
Severe thunderstorms may develop into supercells capable of producing isolated but significant tornadoes.
Friday's warning follows a string of extreme weather this year, including heavy snows, deadly floods, and dangerous landslides.
Earlier this year, winter storms dumped up to 3 feet of snow in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, floods inundated burn scar regions risking mudslides, and powerful thunderstorms spawned tornadoes from Texas to Oklahoma. In addition, New York City and Philadelphia also faced tornado watches and considerable rainfall, creating risks of flash flooding and travel delays. Each event further underscored the heightened volatility of this year's storm season.
NWS Fort Worth-Dallas wrote on its website Saturday: "A storm system will continue to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms as it progresses eastward across the central U.S. into the Northeast through the weekend. There are risks of severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall on Saturday from the Ozarks into the mid-Mississippi River Valley with potential for damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding."
Meteorologist Collin Myers wrote on X on Saturday: "NEW: Looks like SPC will drop a Tornado Watch from north Texas up through eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas soon. Linear winds are still the highest threat, but brief spin-ups can't be ruled out. A rogue supercell or two is also possible ahead of the main line. 10:00am."
Residents across threatened regions are urged to remain alert throughout the weekend and into early next week, monitoring official forecasts and acting promptly on warnings issued.
Emergency agencies will continue to issue alerts as the system progresses, and utility companies are preparing for possible outages and restoration work.
Meanwhile, the NWS urged all residents in the affected zones to prepare by reviewing severe weather safety protocols and to monitor updates via weather.gov.