Locally Potent Storms Will Persist Over Southern and Eastern U.S.

While some parts of the U.S. are drying out just in time for the Mother's Day weekend, other parts of the nation are bracing for more storms over the next few days. Here is a look at what you can expect heading into the weekend.

Thursday's Storm Activity Will Push to the East by Friday

The good news is that there are no widespread outbreaks of severe weather expected for the weekend. However, that does not mean that locally damaging storms could pop up from time to time in some areas through Mother's Day.

The greatest risk of severe storms across the southern, central, and eastern U.S. will last through Saturday. After a brief break from the threat of storms on Sunday, the chances of more storms will be back in the forecast beginning next week.

Thursday brought another day of stormy conditions to a zone from the south-central U.S. and up into the mid-Atlantic. The storm cells packed strong winds, hail, and heavy rain.

South Texas will breathe easier by Friday as the severe weather threat that has plagued the region this week finally comes to an end. However, the risks of potent storms will simply shift to the east and across the southern Atlantic Seaboard by the afternoon and evening hours.

The primary zone of impact will stretch from the Florida Panhandle region and up into the southeastern corner of Virginia. Some of the storms will also impact the central Gulf Coast, the lower portions of the Mississippi Valley, and a small portion of the southern Plains.

Specific Metro Area Forecasts

Now let's look at a few specific forecasts for Friday, moving up the coast from south to north. Jacksonville, Florida, is forecast to start the day on a dry note. However, mostly cloudy skies will lay the groundwork for rain and thunderstorm development in the evening hours. It will be a muggy day in the city in the northeastern corner of the Sunshine State with a high of about 88 degrees and lows that bottom out at the 70-degree mark.

The chance of severe weather will be less widespread to the north in places such as Charleston, South Carolina. This part of the region should still be ready for the threat of a stray storm impacting outdoor activities on Friday afternoon and evening. Highs will hover in the mid 80s before slipping into the mid 60s after the sun goes down.

It could be a rough evening commute for those in Wilmington, North Carolina. This coastal city is forecast to see storms packing the potential of gusty winds and small hail on Friday afternoon. Wilmington is forecast to see a high of about 82 degrees and a low of 59 degrees.

You will find a similar situation heading up the coastline to Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Friday forecast is calling for cloudy skies early with thunderstorms developing in the latter part of the day. Like Wilmington, some of the most severe storm cells could usher in windy conditions and hail. Highs will top out in the mid 70s before falling to about 55 degrees overnight. It will be a bit breezy with winds out of the west-southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

The locally gusty storms will continue to wreak havoc over some of the South heading into the weekend. The greatest chance of disruptions on Saturday will be across the southern Atlantic coastline. These impacts will creep farther to the west and the north as the weekend progresses. The result will be more storms for the Southeast and the Northeast for the early part of the week.

For instance, the storm activity on Friday evening will fire up again on Saturday in Jacksonville. Winds will also pick up as temperatures cool to about the 80-degree mark for a high. Forecasters are warning that Jacksonville should prepare for periods of heavy rainfall on Saturday and into Sunday.

Looking at another part of the country, a slow-moving weather maker coming from the Pacific Ocean is forecast to produce thunderstorm activity over parts of the northern Rockies to kick off the new work week. The line of storms is likely to track to the east and into the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest by the middle of the week, erasing the unseasonable warmth that is building over the region for the weekend.

Meteorologists note that while there is likely to be a good amount of energy coming out of the jet stream by the middle of next week, the moisture might be too limited to generate widespread impacts. However, this is a fluid situation that could shift in the days ahead. Be sure to stay on top of your local forecast if you have outdoor plans next week.

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