Southeast braces for large hail, tornadoes Wednesday as multiday severe weather threat continues
An environment favorable for organized severe storms is expected Tuesday across a large swath of the South. Supercells capable of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds are likely during the afternoon and evening.
Multiday severe weather threat strikes the South this week
An abnormally strong jet stream is helping promote the development of storms across the South, bringing heavy rain, large hail and tornadoes in some areas. June 13, 2023.
An environment capable of producing severe thunderstorms is underway across the South amid a multiday threat of severe weather expected across the region this week.
The FOX Forecast Center said an unusual weather pattern for June is expected to bring a stronger-than-average jet stream from the Pacific Ocean, which will promote an environment favorable for organized severe storms.
Wednesday's severe weather threat comes after widespread hail fell across Texas and Colorado – some as large as 4 inches in diameter. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pampa, Texas, where baseball-sized hail fell. Some parts of central Colorado saw thunderstorms that dropped up to 5 inches of rain Monday at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. On Tuesday, massive hail fell across parts of Texas, and a tornado was seen in Colorado.
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Wednesday's severe weather threat shifts to Southeast
Severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging wind gusts are possible across portions of the Southeast on Wednesday. A level 3 out of 5 threat zone has been issued.
"It comes in with a lot of heavy rain … more than 4 to 5 inches of rain possible," Merwin said. "So flash flooding is going to coincide with this."
Some of the larger cities at risk of severe weather include Jackson in Mississippi, Montgomery in Alabama and Columbus and Albany in Georgia.
Thursday's severe storm threat remains in Southeast
As the storm system responsible for the severe weather lingers over the Southeast, additional rounds of severe thunderstorms could fire up from southern portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia into northern Florida on Thursday.
Damaging wind gusts and large hail will likely be the primary threats in the region.
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Flash flooding in Southeast
Days of heavy rain across the Southeast will likely lead to a large footprint of 3 to 5 inches of rain, with many areas likely to eclipse 5 inches throughout the week. The focus for flash flooding will likely be across northern Alabama and Georgia.