Severe storms are expected to target millions from the Southern Plains to western New York on Thursday, March 26, putting roughly 50 million people at risk for damaging weather, including large hail, strong winds and a few tornadoes.
Storms are expected to develop late Thursday afternoon, especially near southern Lake Michigan, before spreading east into Indiana and Ohio through the evening.
Forecasters say the setup could support supercells early on, capable of producing very large hail up to 2 to 3 inches in diameter. A few tornadoes are also possible, particularly if storms remain isolated ahead of an advancing cold front.
The storms are being fueled by increasing moisture streaming north from the Gulf alongside a strong cold front and an approaching upper-level system.
"Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected late Thursday afternoon and evening across parts of the Midwest and Ohio River Valley. Very large hail, a few tornadoes, and severe winds will be possible," the Storm Prediction Center wrote.
