US Weather Forecast: Severe Thunderstorms with Potential Tornadoes Threaten 20 Million Americans from Texas to Southeast US

Severe storms with potential tornadoes threaten 20 million Americans from Texas to the southeastern United States ahead of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 23. This is according to the National Weather Service (NWS) which warned that the severe thunderstorms affecting the South US are caused by a storm system moving from the southern Plains to the northeastern part of the country. The main weather hazards linked with the storm system will be deadly winds and tornadoes.

US weather authorities also warned that strong offshore Santa Ana winds threaten southern California by Tuesday morning, November 21. This is also the case across the western US, where millions of people as well are under high wind alerts as of Monday, November 20. Although these winds are not life-threatening, they can also fuel fire weather conditions across the region, leading to an increasing risk of wildfire emergence and spread.

US Weather Forecast

US Severe Storms — Photo by Josep Castells on Unsplash

In its US weather forecast for this week, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at 3:01 a.m. EST (local time) on Monday reported a myriad of weather hazards facing the country this week. The hazards mentioned earlier include the severe weather system across the Deep South, snowfall and rainfall events across the Rockies or high Plains, and Santa Ana winds over southern California.

Last week, the WPC and other forecasters in the country said that major weather events will impact the nation ahead of Thanksgiving, primarily a cross-country storm that can cause problems for around 55 million Americans traveling before the national holiday. As forecasts have changed this week, the mentioned weather hazards on Monday can still affect ground and air travel this week.

Also Read : Severe Storms in Central US, Critical Fire Weather Conditions Forecasted in Southwest US

Severe Storms Forecast

The NWS' Storm Prediction Center (SPC) at 10:26 a.m. on Monday stated that a total of around 26 million people are affected by the looming severe storms across the southern US, specifically in the following areas:

Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Plano, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Shreveport, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Metairie, Louisiana
Birmingham, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Memphis, Tennessee
Jackson, Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The SPC highlighted that "some strong" tornadoes, damaging thunderstorm winds, and isolated large hail are the main threats starting Monday afternoon across east Texas and parts of Louisiana, as well as into Mississippi and Alabama. Although the country is heading toward the end of its hurricane season and the start of the winter season, meteorologists said severe weather events can still occur.

Earlier this year, multiple tornadoes that spawned from severe thunderstorms have resulted in multiple deaths in different states nationwide. According to the SPC's Annual U.S. Killer Tornado Statistics in October 2023, a total of 75 tornado-related deaths were reported across the US since January 1 this year, with Mississippi being the highest after recording 14 deaths followed by Tennessee with nine deaths.