The Memorial Day weekend will bring severe weather across multiple states, with most caution needed in some southern and central parts of the United States.
Beginning Saturday and going through Saturday night, dangerous, severe weather may hit the Central Plains, according to the National Weather Service. Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Northern Texas may be hit by storms, tornadoes, flash flooding, and hail.
Some tornadoes Saturday could be particularly violent and exceed EF4 strength, the Storm Prediction Center warned Friday.
A Level 4 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in place Saturday for a large swath of Kansas and Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa Wichita, and far western Missouri.
This weather system will shift Sunday and manifest as strong storms in the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys. At this time, the greatest tornado threat is in parts of the Midwest, especially during the afternoon and evening.
The travel hubs of Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Nashville could have to contend with damaging storms, leading to delayed or canceled flights.
Dangerous weather for the creation of fires—in other words, very low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds—are expected in New Mexico, the Southern Rockies, and the High Plains.
Life-Threatening Heat
Temperatures will reach three-digit numbers in some areas in South Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Southern Florida, with potential for record daily highs being broken.
Excessive heat warnings remain in effect across South Texas due to temperatures rising to around 115 degrees, which could be dangerous for people outdoors. The heat index is expected to max out between 110 and 120 degrees in southern Texas, including in Corpus Christi and Laredo.
Red flag warnings span throughout all of New Mexico, southeast Arizona, western Texas, and the western Oklahoma Panhandle.
In other parts of South Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida, temperatures will be more moderate, around 90 degrees. Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Mobile, Alabama, Tampa, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina, are just a few cities along the Gulf and southeast Atlantic coasts where it will feel more like July than late May through Memorial Day.
For people out in the heat, it is important to stay hydrated and be vigilant for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Final Leg on the East Coast
Then finally this storm system will move toward the Atlantic, touching the East Coast on Monday, bringing colder temperatures, showers, and maybe storms, as well as frequent lightning and gusty winds.
Given the near-record number of people who will travel this weekend in nearly two decades, according to AAA, travelers are advised to be prepared as the severe weather warnings cover a big part of the country.
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
