Large swaths of central United States will be hit by violent tornadoes and hail bigger than baseballs beginning Tuesday, weather forecasters in Oklahoma warned.
The severe weather outbreak will target areas spanning from southern Nebraska, central Kansas to central Oklahoma and northern Texas.
This has prompted the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) to mark these places as "moderate risk" zones -- the second highest of the five categories for potentially strong storm systems.
12:56am CDT #SPC Day2 Outlook Moderate Risk: across parts of southeast neb centr... https://t.co/rEAejNpVr0 pic.twitter.com/3cFxhHG5jV
— NWS SPC (@NWSSPC) April 25, 2016
More specifically, cities in the forecast area include the following:
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Wichita, Kansas
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Dallas, Texas
- Waco, Texas
- Austin, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
Bill Bunting, the agency's Chief of Operations, said the severe storm system will produce strong thunderstorms and ferocious straight-line winds of up to 70 miles per hour.
Expect the tornado threat to start Tuesday afternoon and peak in the evening, Bunting said. Severe weather will last into the night. Some of the tornadoes have the potential to be intense and strong.
"An EF-2 or greater, which is winds over 110 mph, [is] strong enough to cause structural damage to well-built homes," he said.
Andrew Gagnon of AccuWeather said Tuesday's storm outbreaks can potentially produce numerous tornadoes, including strong wedge tornadoes that could remain on the ground for an extended period of time.
Wedge tornadoes are at least as wide as they are tall, and can damage a lot of territory, according to AccuWeather.
Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist, said the storm outbreak is not just a tornado or two. She said multiple tornadoes can hit multiple states.
"Several have the possibility to be long-lived or long-tracked, meaning they're on the ground for long periods of time," said Chinchar.
Most tornadoes stay on the ground for 10 to 15 minutes on average, but the ones predicted this Tuesday could last on the ground for half an hour or longer, she added.
Tips To Prepare For Severe Weather
1. Bunting advises residents in storm-threatened areas to prepare. He said it is important for families to have a severe weather plan and practice it.
2. It is also vital to have several ways of receiving weather alerts and information about the storm, including weather apps on smartphones or weather radio.
3. Knowing where to find shelter in your building or home is important. AccuWeather recommends finding shelter locations: underground safe room, basement, small interior room.
4. Have a secure way to communicate with friends and family, or set a specific meeting point, to let them know your state after the storm.
5. Prepare a survival kit containing non-perishable food, potable water, flashlights, extra batteries, extra medications, and an extra pair of shoes.
6. Charge mobile phones and other devices.
7. During the storm: do not seek shelter in a car, mobile home, bridge, or overpass. Stay as safe as possible.
Photo: NOAA Photo Library | Flickr
