Saturday Morning Update: Dangerous Day In South Today

Especially in the orange section of this map, people
should be on alert for severe thunderstorms and
tornadoes today. 

Just a brief update for Saturday morning with this alert:

People who live in a broad path from northeast Texas through Arkansas and on up into southern Missouri, Illinois and Indiana really ought to be on guard today.

A whole variety of dangerous weather is breaking out there, including widespread flooding, severe thunderstorms, and, likely tornadoes. A few of those tornadoes could be strong.

It's been raining hard for days in this area, so flooding is already ongoing. A huge batch of rain today is going to make things worse.

A strong disturbance will also make winds change directions with height, a great recipe if you want an early season outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The two biggest metro areas that seem to be under the gun today are Little Rock and Memphis, says NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. 

Especially in the purple and red sections of this map,
people should be on alert for looding today 

Also note that since the ground is saturated in those areas, strong winds would make it easier for trees to become uprooted during those strong winds in severe thunderstorms.

I'm impressed by the big size of today's high risk of flash flooding. According to the National Weather Service, that area extends from the southeastern corner of Oklahoma all the way up into Ohio.

Flooding has already taken a big toll this week in Ontario, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and elsewhere. At least two people have died in the flooding, and other deaths were reported during the week a bit west of the flood zone where freezing caused traffic crashes.

The St. Joseph River in and near South Bend, Indiana has reached a record crest and prompted plenty of evacuations.

The same storm that is likely to cause havoc today in the Mid-South will arrive in Vermont Sunday. There won't be anything too scary here, but it will be an ugly day in the weather department.

Expect snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain changing to rain as temperatures stay raw all day in the 30s. Gusty southeast winds of up to 40 mph will add to the ickiness of Sunday's weather.

It'll stay a little warmer than normal through most of next week. Many daytime highs will be in the 40s. It looks like maple sugaring season is off to an early start.