Another Round of Storms Targets the South on Wednesday

While Monday's severe weather is likely to be the worst outbreak of the week, that does not mean that the danger will be over heading into Tuesday and Wednesday. The latest forecast models suggest that the storms will shift to the southeast as the week progresses. Here is a look at what to expect in the hours and days ahead.

More Storms Brewing for Tuesday

Over 900 preliminary severe weather reports were notched between last Thursday and Monday. This includes reports of nearly 60 twisters. Of the 900-plus reports, 300 of them were recorded on Monday alone. Monday's storms resulted in widespread power outages, totaling well over 200,000 in the Midwest.

The central, southern, and eastern U.S. is not out of the danger zone. More storms are forecast to ignite this week as the atmosphere simply reloads. The primary impact zone for Tuesday's activity is expected to stretch over southern Ohio and to the east into West Virginia. To the south, storms will creep as far as central Texas.

Some of Tuesday morning's activity will simply be what is left from Monday night's storms. However, the natural daytime heating will also work to support the development of a new batch of storms in the afternoon and evening hours.

Once again, all modes of severe weather are a possibility. Potential impacts include damaging winds, large hail, urban flooding, and isolated tornadoes. Any tornado that comes to life could stay on the ground for a long period of time, elevating the potential damage.

The greatest threat of storms on Tuesday will stretch from the northeastern corner of Texas to Arkansas and Mississippi. Cities in the line of fire include Dallas, Shreveport, Jackson, Memphis, Little Rock, Nashville, and Birmingham.

For instance, Memphis is bracing for scattered strong storms to pop off in the afternoon hours. Some of the storm cells could generate damaging wind and large hail. The action will really get going in the evening hours in Memphis. Locally heavy rain amounting to 1 to 2 inches is forecast for the overnight hours. Tuesday's highs will top out in the upper 70s before sliding to about 63 degrees after the sun goes down.

On the eastern edge of the storm activity, Birmingham, Alabama, will be under the gun for potential thunderstorms early in the day. After calmer conditions in the afternoon, the threat of storms will reignite in the evening and overnight hours. Rainfall totals near an inch are predicted overnight. The forecast is calling for highs of about 77 degrees and lows that hover in the mid 60s.