A powerful storm system that impacted the nation’s heartland and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys is now advancing eastward, with much of the Eastern Seaboard under threat of severe storms. However, atmospheric conditions are not as conducive for severe weather as they were in the previous 48 hours, resulting in lower chances of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted communities from New Jersey to Florida as being at an increased risk for severe weather, including cities such as Virginia Beach, Raleigh, Charleston, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Approximately 36 million people are under threat of severe weather as the cold front continues to march eastward with showers and thunderstorms ahead of it.
The storm system, while fast-moving with some cells moving at speeds over 50 mph, continues to produce severe storms triggering weather alerts for many counties. Although most of the storms are expected to move offshore by sunset, wintry weather on the northern end of the storm system is likely to persist through at least Thursday. April is typically the second-busiest month for severe weather outbreaks as seasonal air masses clash over the eastern half of the country, making it a peak time for tornadoes and other severe weather events. Historically, April sees an increase in severe weather outbreaks, but the current data shows tornado activity for the year is below average while hail and damaging winds reports are closer to average.
The year seems to be following the norms set during previous El Niño events, with the global climate pattern known to suppress severe weather outbreaks in the Lower 48. As a result, tornado activity this year is below average while hail and damaging winds reports are closer to average. Despite the decreased risk compared to the previous 48 hours, a 2 out of 5 risk level for severe weather still calls for caution and preparedness. The Eastern Seaboard is currently under threat for severe storms, with the possibility of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes still present in communities from New Jersey to Florida. As the cold front continues to advance eastward, the storm system is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms, with some storms continuing to be severe and triggering weather alerts for many counties.
Approximately 36 million people are under threat of severe weather as the cold front progresses across the Eastern Seaboard, with the majority of the storms expected to be offshore by sunset. However, wintry weather on the northern portion of the storm system is forecasted to linger through at least Thursday. As April is typically a peak month for severe weather outbreaks, the clash of seasonal air masses often leads to increased tornado activity and other severe weather events. Despite the year following patterns set during historic El Niño events, data shows tornado activity for the year is currently below average while hail and damaging wind reports are closer to average. The fast-moving storm system poses a continued threat of severe storms to communities along the Eastern Seaboard, requiring precaution and vigilance.
