Tornado, damaging wind dangers: Southern storm threat

A strong cold front sliding across the Southeast and South will trigger big storms this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and even a tornado or two are possible.

This front, extending from Texas to the Northeast will slide south and east today. The WeatherRadar shows it bringing heavy rain to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and into the Carolinas.

Across the South, Southeast, lower Mississippi Valley and Texas, it produced thunderstorms earlier today. Fresh thunderstorms will develop this afternoon south of the front as warm and humid air — the TemperatureRadar shows highs in the 80s to near 90 degrees along the Gulf Coast— from the Gulf streams northward and clash with the front.

Waco and Lufkin, Texas, Shreveport and Alexandria, La., Jackson, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., and even Atlanta and its suburbs could all see storms.

These storms will be severe and could produce damaging winds, hail and in some cases, tornadoes. It is important to stay alert and have alerts activated.