UNITED STATES - A multi-day severe weather pattern is set to impact much of the central and eastern United States through midweek, with storms bringing damaging winds, hail, a few tornadoes, and localized flash flooding.
According to AccuWeather, the setup begins Tuesday as warm, humid air surges northward, fueling strong thunderstorms from central Texas through Arkansas into parts of Kentucky and Illinois. The greatest tornado risk is expected from northeastern Texas into Arkansas, while areas farther north—particularly parts of Missouri—could see heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding.
By Wednesday, the system expands significantly, with showers and thunderstorms stretching from southeastern Texas to New England. The most concentrated severe weather is expected from Louisiana into Mississippi, where storms may bring damaging winds, hail, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes.
On Thursday, the focus shifts toward the East Coast. Steady rain is likely across parts of the Northeast, while strong thunderstorms develop farther south from Louisiana through the Carolinas. The primary threats at that stage will be gusty winds and heavy downpours.
While the rainfall may provide some drought relief in portions of the South, repeated rounds of storms increase the risk of urban and localized flash flooding, particularly in areas that see multiple waves of heavy rain.
This extended stretch of severe weather highlights a volatile early May pattern, with impacts expected to shift region by region as the week progresses.
