Significant Severe Weather Event to Slam South US with Multiple Thunderstorms, Tornadoes

This week, a significant severe weather event with numerous thunderstorms and tornadoes is anticipated in the South of the United States, thanks to a new, powerful storm system advancing into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday.

Tuesday will see "a significant severe weather event" throughout sections of the lower Mississippi River Valley, according to an early forecast warning from the Storm Prediction Center.

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Bill Bunting, the Storm Prediction Center's chief of forecast operations, told CNN Weather that damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and severe thunderstorms with the potential to produce tornadoes will all be possible under this storm system.

As Tuesday approaches, smaller-scale trends will become more obvious.

Then, the specifics regarding the areas most under threat from the incoming tornadoes will become more clear.

Memphis is included in the region's Level 3 out of 5 increased risk for severe storms.

The larger severe storm threat Tuesday, from eastern Texas areas to southern Indiana, could, however, affect more than 25 million people.

A possible categorical upgrade is seen in later outlooks, the prediction center said in its forecast discussion on Sunday morning.

This means that as Tuesday moves in and the forecast becomes more certain, the severe storm threat could rise to a Level 4 or 5 out of 5.

But storms are predicted to be strong and possibly destructive this week.

As the forecast evolves over the course of the next few days, weather officials are reminding the public to stay informed, Storm Prediction Center noted.

After Tuesday night's sundown, the system is likely to produce tornadoes and dangerous winds throughout the lower Mississippi River Valley.

Nocturnal Thunderstorms and Nighttime Tornadoes

Bunting said that unfortunately, it does seem that Tuesday night and into the early morning hours will still be at risk from severe storms.

The fatality rate of a tornado also varies significantly depending on what time of day it occurs.

Because so many people are asleep and not aware that they should be looking for a safe place to hide, nocturnal tornadoes are more dangerous.

Tuesday night's nocturnal storms are most likely to affect southern Illinois through Louisiana.

Bunting added that the fact that storms frequently move very quickly, sometimes at speeds of 50 or 60 mph, presents another difficulty with nighttime tornadoes, particularly in the fall and winter.

This means that people should not wait until the storm actually occurs but rather act quickly and seek shelter based on the information given in advisories.

Bunting noted that another issue will be the possible flooding because of the significant rainfall brought on by numerous thunderstorm rounds.

The average amount of rainfall is predicted to be between one and two inches, but isolated areas may receive up to four inches.

It's Severe Weather Season Again

While tornadoes can occur in the US at any time of the year, spring is when they occur most frequently because of the clash of hot and cold air as the seasons change.

The same merging of temperatures also takes place in the fall, which is why a secondary "severe season" this time of the year is frequently observed.

Bunting brought up the tragically high number of fatalities from last December as well as the month's record number of tornadoes.

Dozens of Tornadoes and Upgraded Levels of Risk

Three days before the storm, a Level 3 severe storm risk was issued; however, it was later upgraded to a Level 4 risk.

Many homes and businesses were damaged by the dozens of tornadoes that were reported in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

It would be the first time two Level 4 risks had been issued anywhere in the US in November if Tuesday's threat was upgraded to a Level 4 risk.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans said that although climatologically speaking, the spring months are when it is busiest, there is a secondary uptick in tornado activity in November.

On average, Texas experiences seven tornadoes in the month of November, followed by Alabama at six, and Louisiana and Mississippi at five each.

Bunting also added that since severe thunderstorms tend to happen less frequently in the cooler months, they can sometimes throw people off guard and have a significant impact.

He advised updating or creating a family-wide severe weather emergency plan.

Knowing where to go in the event of severe weather is crucial, as is ensuring that your cell phone and flashlights are fully charged in case of a power outage, CNN Weather reported.