A wide swath of the country is facing severe thunderstorms on Sunday as a line of storms capable of producing tornadoes moving through areas including Indianapolis where the Indy 500 is scheduled to begin.
The Memorial Day weekend severe weather threat continues Sunday, with more dangerous weather unfolding across parts of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys.
Already this weekend, severe thunderstorms have produced a deadly tornado outbreak in parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma that has claimed the lives of at least 10 people.
DEATH TOLL RISING AFTER TORNADOES ROCK AMERICA’S HEARTLAND OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
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Unlike Saturday, when thunderstorms produced deadly tornadoes and dangerous weather overnight, Sunday’s threat will feature showers and thunderstorms throughout the day that could impact events. Some areas will face storms twice – in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
The main threats on Sunday will be similar to Saturday, with more tornadoes possible, damaging winds up to 75 mph and large hail.
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for southern Indiana, western and central Kentucky and western and middle Tennessee. The watch continues until 3 p.m.
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Multiple Tornado Warnings were already issued Sunday morning as the storms moved across Missouri and Kentucky, where tornadoes were seen on radar.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FORECAST INCLUDES STORMS, HEAT AND RIP CURRENTS
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an area with nearly 16 million people in places such as St. Louis in Missouri, Nashville in Tennessee, Cincinnati in Ohio, and Louisville in Kentucky, in a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather. That area also includes Indianapolis, Indiana, where the iconic Indy 500 is scheduled to race on Sunday morning. Organizers are already preparing for the potential of storms.
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Thunderstorms moving through the area caused pre-race ceremonies Sunday to pause. Officials told fans to evacuate the grandstands and Snake Pit until after lightning cleared the area.
Another 36 million people, including those in Chicago in Illinois, Memphis in Tennessee, and Charlotte in North Carolina, are currently in a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe weather.
Fortunately for travelers, many are already at their destinations by Sunday. However, those who will be traveling on interstates 40, 70, 55 and 65 will want to pay close attention to the forecast.
Severe weather threat shifts to mid-Atlantic on Memorial Day
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On Monday, showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread across much of the eastern third of the nation. However, the chances for a severe weather outbreak are much less than during the previous two days.
The SPC has placed more than 27 million people in the mid-Atlantic in a Level 2 severe weather threat, including Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; and Charlotte, North Carolina.