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Doctor, away from family for covid-19 and homeless for tornado 0:20
(CNN) - The Easter weekend may be marked by severe weather in parts of the southern United States.
According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), "the main risks are expected to be tornadoes (potentially strong / long-haul) and widespread damaging winds."
The threat extends from Texas on Saturday to Georgia on Sunday night.
The Easter weekend will start relatively smoothly from Friday to Saturday morning.
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We will begin to see rains throughout the south on Saturday, mainly in west Texas.
This region is currently affected by drought, so rain will be beneficial. Rain can be heavy at times, but it is not likely to be severe.
As we get closer to Easter Sunday, things start to get worse.
Tornado outbreak seems likely Sunday
"Easter Sunday could be a very dangerous day in the southeast" of the country, said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen. “It is likely that all of the ingredients for adverse weather conditions will combine. Strong low pressure, strong wind shear, high humidity in the Gulf of Mexico, and this could cause multiple tornadoes throughout the Southeast. ”
When these ingredients come together, the threat increases for a severe outbreak, with large, long-lasting tornadoes. The worst of the storms will occur from afternoon to night.
The SPC, which is part of the National Weather Service, has issued a moderate risk - level 4 of 5 - of severe storms on Sunday from Louisiana to Alabama. It includes places like Jackson, Mississippi, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham in Alabama.
"It is very rare for the Storm Prediction Center to have such a high level of threat three days in advance," says Hennen.
They have also considered that the stretches from Texas to Georgia have a higher risk: level 3 out of 5. Larger cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Tennessee, Memphis and Nashville are in this whole area of greater risk.
And the mild risk — Tier 2 out of 5 — extends even further from Texas to Virginia. This higher risk area includes Houston, Texas and in North Carolina, Charlotte and Raleigh.
Together these risk areas are home to more than 55 million people who are at risk of severe and dangerous weather on Sunday.
The storms will begin firing in the Arklatex region (Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas) early Sunday afternoon, and will travel east for the remainder of the day.
Places like Shreveport and New Orleans in Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi, Montgomery and Birmingham in Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia must watch out for dangerous storms and possible tornadoes.
If you are in the target area due to bad weather, make sure your family has a safety plan.
Remember, in the event of a tornado, settle on the lowest floor of your home. Then take shelter in a small room, interior, or closet away from windows.
Make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts on your phone or a weather radio that will alert you if a storm is coming.
