Severe Weather

The Severe Threat Takes A Few Days Off Before Ramping Up Again Across Plains, Southern States Late This Week

It has been a very busy April when it comes to severe weather, and the trend will pick up again late this week. Another round of severe weather could impact the Plains and South. Here's a closer look.

See When And Where Storms Will Fire Up This Week

The severe weather season has already been extremely busy across the Plains and Midwest, and will take a bit of a pause before ramping up again late this week.

While the details are still being fine-tuned, consider this your early look at the week ahead when it comes to the risk of severe weather.

Thursday Through Thursday Night

The next round of severe weather will impact a portion of the Plains from southern Iowa and stretching down to Oklahoma.

Thursday's Thunderstorm Outlook
(Shaded on the map above is the likelihood of severe thunderstorms, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. Note that not all categories apply to the severe weather risk on a particular day.)

Places like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City and Des Moines should be on alert.

While it’s too early to forecast the exact timing and threats, prepare for the possibility of heavy rain, hail and even some isolated tornadoes.

Friday Through Friday Night

On Friday, the severe threat shifts east and south. As storms push east, they will put areas from Texas to Missouri at risk for severe storms.

This includes the Arklatex and the southern Mississippi River Valley. Places like Shreveport, Little Rock, Jackson and Memphis should all be on alert.

These areas should prepare for the possibility of very heavy rainfall, hail and even isolated tornadoes.

This Comes On The Heels Of A Very Active Period

This small breather is welcomed after a very busy, severe-weather week last week. Friday alone, there were 53 tornado reports and nearly 150 hail reports. The exact number of actual tornadoes is not yet clear, pending additional surveys from the National Weather Service.

Reports of severe weather from Tuesday morning through Friday night. Plotted above are both reports of and confirmed tornadoes.
((Data: NOAA/NWS/SPC))

Before Friday, there were over 750 reports of severe weather from Monday through Thursday night, including almost 50 reports of tornadoes.

As you can see, many of the same areas that are under the risk of severe weather later this week are areas that have already been hit hard by severe weather just last week.

Make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts, should severe weather strike on Thursday and Friday.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.