Easter weekend could bring a mix of sun and storms across much of the U.S., with Saturday shaping up as the trickiest day for outdoor plans. More than 45 million people are in the path of potential thunderstorms, including many preparing for egg hunts in the Midwest and Ohio Valley.
Severe storms are expected to develop Friday, April 3, across the Southern Plains and Midwest, bringing large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Northern Missouri, southern Iowa and north-central Illinois are under the highest threat Friday evening as any isolated supercells could pack a punch before merging into larger storm lines.
Saturday — the peak day for Easter egg hunts — will see thunderstorms spreading from the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley. The greatest severe threat is in parts of Ohio, Kentucky and surrounding states, where strong wind gusts and hail are possible. Additional isolated severe storms could affect the central Mississippi Valley and southern Plains, making outdoor activities risky in those areas.
"Thunderstorms with severe wind gusts and hail will be possible Saturday afternoon and evening in parts of the Ohio Valley," the Storm Prediction Center wrote. "Thunderstorms with isolated severe gusts and hail will also be possible from the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley."
