Ongoing severe weather outbreak continues Tuesday with strong ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio – After storms caused damage in the nation’s heartland Monday, Tuesday's severe weather outbreak is expected to be more intense, with the potential for strong, long-track tornadoes that could tear across parts of Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana.

An initial round of severe thunderstorms was ongoing in portions of the Ohio Valley early Tuesday, but a second round of severe weather Tuesday afternoon and evening has forecasters concerned as supercells are expected to develop after the passage of warm front. In addition to the significant tornado threat, the FOX Forecast Center said large hail and 70-plus-mph wind gusts are also possible.

 

Indiana, Kentucky hit by severe storms Tuesday, causing injuries

Early Tuesday morning, an 84-mph wind gust was reported near Evansville, Indiana. City officials reported significant storm damage throughout the city, particularly on the north side. City crews are working to clear the roads, and there are reports of power outages in several areas, including stoplights.

Strong winds in Vanderburgh, Indiana caused damage to the city's Emergency Operations Center's roof. According to the National Weather Service, there have been multiple reports of trees and powerlines, and damage to mobile homes throughout Vanderburgh.

More strong winds and falling trees caused notable destruction in southern Boonville, Indiana, leading to roof and structural damage. Utility poles were snapped in Chrisney, Indiana as well due to the high winds.

Emergency managers reported one person suffered minor injuries in Uniontown, Kentucky, when a tree fell onto a mobile home, according to the NWS in Paducah.

Tuesday's severe weather risk extends from the Ohio Valley to as far south as the Gulf Coast and as far east as western portions of Virginia and the Carolinas. Overall, more than 78 million Americans face the threat of severe storms between Tuesday and Tuesday night.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather in parts of Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. This includes the cities of Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton in Ohio, as well as Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky. Nearly 9 million people are covered by this Level 4 threat.

"We're almost maxing out on the barometer for severe weather that encompasses northern Kentucky, that southeastern portion of Indiana and well into Ohio," FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres said. "When you get into where the conditions are just so ripe, we could have some long-duration long-track potential tornadoes here, and tornadoes that are EF-2 or stronger."

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A Tornado Watch has been issued until 12 p.m. EDT for portions of central and northern Kentucky and southern Indiana.

Additional Tornado Watches will likely be issued throughout the day.

"Some tornadoes may be long-lived and strong," the SPC warned in its convective outlook on Tuesday morning.

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Severe weather threat shifts to East Coast on Wednesday

Severe thunderstorms packing threats of damaging winds and hail are possible Wednesday across parts of the eastern Carolinas and mid-Atlantic, with a second severe weather threat area expected over the Florida Peninsula.

Wednesday's threat zone includes the cities of Richmond and Virginia Beach in Virginia, Hatteras in North Carolina and Jacksonville and Tampa in Florida.

 

Be sure to check back with FOX Weather for updates on this ongoing severe weather outbreak. You can download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to receive real-time alerts about any severe weather headed your way.

Severe weather outbreak began Monday in Plains, Midwest

Tuesday's threat comes after severe storms tore across the central U.S. on Monday, the first day of April – which typically marks the beginning of the most active three months for tornadoes in the U.S.

According to local storm reports tallied by the National Weather Service on Monday and Monday night, there were at least three reports of tornadoes in northeastern Oklahoma, more than 40 reports of damaging winds or wind damage from Texas to Kentucky and over 60 reports of large hail from Texas to Ohio.

The top wind reports on Monday, April 1, 2024.

(FOX Weather)

According to the NWS, a tornado near Lenapah, Oklahoma, rolled over a tractor-trailer, trapping one person inside. Another tornado was reported near the town of Hominy, Oklahoma.

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Monday's largest hail report was grapefruit-sized hail (4.5 inches) near Briar, Texas, while the highest wind report was an 88-mph gust near Albany, Texas.

On Monday evening, Carthage, Missouri, reported damage around the historic downtown square from a possible tornado. The town was issued a Tornado Warning about 9:30 p.m. CDT, warning of 70 mph winds and quarter-size hail. Prior to hitting Carthage, the storm produced a 73 mph gust in Joplin.

A Tornado Warning was issued for Carthage, Missouri, at 9:33 p.m. CDT Monday. It was also warned for 70-mph winds and quarter-size hail.

(Carthage Water & Electric Plant (CWEP))