A map of areas at risk of severe thunderstorms and strong tornadoes shows four states are under an enhanced threat of a damaging winter storm.
The model, produced by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Wednesday, suggests that on Friday a swath of over 83,000 square miles across the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama falls under the third out of five risk levels relating to twister storms. The area includes the cities of Montgomery in Alabama, Columbus in Georgia and Fayetteville in North Carolina. It is estimated to have a total population of over 9.1 million people.
Under a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, with the potential for cyclogenesis—the circulation of air in the atmosphere that produces cyclones—are other parts of the Carolinas and Alabama, as well as Mississippi, the Florida panhandle and the border regions of Louisiana and Virginia. The area includes highly populated cities Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Much of the southeast is currently under a marginal risk of tornado-producing thunderstorms, while many parts of the east face the threat of thunderstorms into the weekend.
"Models continue to indicate that strong cyclogenesis will proceed Friday across the Mississippi Valley through Atlantic Seaboard," the NWS explained. "It still appears that the center of the growing cyclone will undergo a period of very rapid deepening across the lower Ohio Valley during the day," before moving northeastward into Friday evening.
It added: "Although storm mode remains uncertain, there is concern that this environment may support and maintain discrete supercell development with a risk for strong tornadoes. Otherwise, the evolution of at least a small organized cluster might also be possible, accompanied by potential for very strong and damaging convective gusts."
The meteorology agency previously predicted the U.S. would be hit by several storm fronts this week, with heavy rain bringing the threat of flooding along the East Coast from southern New England to Maine on Wednesday.
The NWS said that for parts of Maine, up to three inches of rain "over highly saturated, and in some cases snow-covered ground, along with swollen creeks and streams, will elevate the potential for flooding across this region."
At the same time, up to 60 mph winds are expected along the East Coast, which are anticipated to cause instances of coastal flooding.
The southeast has already seen an active tornado season—which typically occurs in the Spring in the region. On average, the U.S. sees around 1,200 tornadoes a year.
In early December, at least 13 twisters powered across Tennessee, destroying properties and downing power lines. The storm also took the lives of at least two children and two adults.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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