Dangerous Storms Bring Tornado Risk, Heavy Downpours

Heavy rain causes flooding Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.Doral Chenoweth II / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network

A hazardous storm system is prompting weather alerts for millions of residents as it traverses the Ohio Valley region and Northeast, delivering torrential rain, isolated tornado risks, and snowfall.

Tuesday presents the possibility of a severe weather eruption in the Ohio Valley, Middle Tennessee, and Southeast, with numerous rounds of storms forecast from daytime into the evening hours.

The Ohio Valley region is presently under the impact of a powerful storm. Tornado watches remain in effect until noon ET for a population of approximately 4 million living near the Ohio River.  These storms may generate straight-line winds reaching speeds of 90 mph.

An expansive outbreak of severe storms, extending from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, has placed 54 million individuals at risk.

The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center released a statement on X (Tuesday) warning of late-season heavy snow and strong winds affecting the Great Lakes and the Northeast through midweek.

A winter storm warning is in effect for Wisconsin, commencing at 1 p.m. Tuesday and lasting until 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to local station NBC26.

Residents should anticipate significant quantities of wet, heavy snow, wind gusts reaching 40 mph, and hazardous road conditions over the next 24 hours. NBC26 reports that snowfall will persist across northeast Wisconsin through Thursday as the storm moves through, followed by sunny weather on Friday.

Central Indiana and Ohio face threats of high winds and hail. The weather service issued a caution that tornadoes could also form within these storms in Indiana. Columbus, Ohio's NBC affiliate WCMH-TV has reported an isolated tornado threat for the region.

Flooding presents a serious concern, with flood watches issued on Tuesday for 16 million people residing in areas stretching from Illinois to Pennsylvania.

Intense thunderstorms surging across sections of the Ohio Valley pose the greatest flood risk on Tuesday. Rainfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour have the potential to trigger flash flooding.

The Weather Prediction Center highlights a slight risk of excessive rainfall in portions of the lower Great Lakes, the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, and the central Appalachians due to the heavy downpours. This wet weather will likely generate localized flash flooding, putting urban areas, roads, and small streams at particular risk.

On Wednesday, severe storm threats shift to the mid-Atlantic and Florida, affecting a population of 15 million.

The Northeast may experience heavy, wet snow and some sleet from Wednesday afternoon through Friday as a secondary low-pressure system develops along the mid-Atlantic coast.

Significant snowfall accumulations are expected in upstate New York and northern New England, likely leading to hazardous travel conditions with low visibility and snow-covered roads.

The storms are also expected to bring frequent lightning, severe wind gusts, hail, and the possibility of tornadoes.

These springtime storms arrive on the heels of a wet Monday that saw unconfirmed tornadoes, hail, strong gusts, and heavy rain in portions of the South.