More than 750 tornadoes have been reported so far this year, the most by mid-May since 2011. (Credit: Dan Ross/Adobe Stock)
Damaging thunderstorms, tornadoes and wind gusts are in store for large areas of the country this weekend and into next week, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
Starting Friday, severe thunderstorms are set to hit parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Damaging wind gusts and up to a dozen tornadoes are expected to hit the area.
“The signs from the atmosphere are like a bullhorn, warning us of a very concerning severe weather setup,” said Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather’s chief on-air meteorologist, in a statement. “All of the ingredients for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are in place, including heat, moisture and a powerful dip in the jet stream that creates a lifting motion in the atmosphere.”
The storms will then move into the northeast, hitting upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia starting Friday night. By Saturday, storms are expected to stretch from central Texas to western New England.
On Sunday and into early next week, the southern Plains, from central Texas to South Dakota, will be at high risk for severe storms and tornadoes.
The severe weather could impact nearly 200 million Americans in the central and eastern parts of the country. The storms could cause power outages and disrupt travel and shipments, AccuWeather said.
“These storms will pack a punch with destructive wind gusts that can topple trees and knock down power lines,” said Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist. “This setup has the potential to evolve into a derecho. People need to be prepared for the threat of widespread power outages that could leave them without electricity and air conditioning for days.”
The 2025 tornado season could be one of the worst the country has seen in over a decade, according to AccuWeather. More than 750 tornadoes have been reported so far this year, which is more reports by mid-May than any year since 2011.
AccuWeather is forecasing somewhere between 1,300 and 1,450 tornadoes this year, above the historical average of 1,255 tornadoes.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.