Dangerous storms tonight, tornadoes likely

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A tornado warning is in effect for much of Louisiana until 3 p.m. this afternoon. This is our first threat of severe storms today. The second, more powerful round starts late this evening.

Numerous severe storms are expected across the Deep South tonight, lasting into early Sunday morning. All types of storms are possible. These include hail, wind, tornadoes and heavy rainfall. The Storm Prediction Center has increased the severe storm threat level to a MODERATE RISK (4/5).

Hail can reach 1 inch or more in diameter. Winds can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour, causing structural damage or downing of power lines.

TORNADO THREAT BREAKDOWN: What the hell is going on here?

It’s not often that we see an increased or increased risk of tornadoes here in south Louisiana when the hatched markers are exaggerated… What do these little black lines mean?

The hatched markings indicate a significant risk of tornado formation. “SIGNIFIGANT” indicates tornadoes EF-2 strength or higher are likely to form within 25 miles of a given point. These are large, usually longer tornadoes that can cause severe damage to homes and property.

The colors on the map above mean the following:

RED – 15% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.

YELLOW – 10% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.

BROWN – 5% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of any point.

GREEN – 2% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.

**Make sure you can receive alerts even in the event of a power outage.

8:00 p.m Potential for rotating storms extending from Cut Off, New Orleans, Slidell, Bogalusa and McComb with a secondary line of storms developing behind them. There are likely several serious threats associated with this more inclined storm line from Morgan City to Baton Rouge. This could mean hail, tornadoes, or damaging winds.

Individual storms have a high probability of rotation. We use the term discrete to describe storms that develop “away from the pack.” This allows them to avoid having to fight other storms for available atmospheric energy.