The Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch for about 12 million people in north-central and northeast Texas, eastern and southern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. The Alert is in effect until 8 p.m. local time and covers the cities of Dallas, Waco and Tyler, Texas; Tulsa in Oklahoma and Fort Smith and Fayetteville in Arkansas.
“Several tornadoes could occur in southeastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas,” the agency warned in its forecast on Friday. He said that “one or two strong tornadoes could occur from late afternoon to early evening.”
All severe meteorological threats are possible, as storms increase in coverage and intensity during the afternoon and evening hours this Friday. Threats to the monitoring area include some tornadoes, as well as significant and damaging wind gusts up to 128 km/h. Apart from this, according to the forecast center, widespread hail is also possible.
The clash between early winter gusts and record fall heat has created a strong southern hurricane system that has become the largest tornado threat the US has seen in more than five months.
In that sense, the Storm Prediction Center highlighted an area of ”moderate risk” for eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana this Friday — a level 4 out of 5 — intensifying this Friday. Storm.
The risk has increased in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area for Friday – Level 3 of 4.
“The most likely area for strong tornadoes” [EF2 o superior] This extreme will be southeast of Oklahoma south to east Texas, east of the I-35 corridor.
The main threat will change from tornadoes on Friday afternoon and evening to damaging winds during the early hours as thunderstorms spread further into Arkansas and Louisiana.
As the storm moves east, a major destructive widespread wind event is forecast for Friday night in parts of the Arc-la-Tex region. That’s why the Prediction Center has updated the danger level for Friday.
“Storms will continue to move into Louisiana and Arkansas and western Mississippi well into the night,” the forecast center said.
This storm system will move rapidly from west to east, reducing the chance of flash flooding throughout the Arc-la-Tex region. To the north, a wide area from Kansas to Wisconsin is expected to receive 1 to 4 inches of rain through Saturday.
Rain is badly needed in the region, as recent droughts have caused the Mississippi River to reach record lows, affecting shipping and supply chains.
A total of 42 million people are at risk of a severe tornado from Texas to Wisconsin this Friday. Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Kansas City and Wichita are also at risk.
The last time the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area was at greater or greater risk was on May 24.
