Breakfast Brief - Widespread tornado risk kicks off the week

Spring is notorious for severe storms and a widespread severe threat will mark the beginning of April's last week. Above-average heat will not only fuel the spring severe threat but also toy with a couple of lower Mississippi Valley heat records. The Breakfast Brief is published Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Severe storms are expected today across the Upper Midwest and into the Plains as a large storm system makes its way east. Not only will this storm produce mountain snow on its back end across the Rockies and northern High Plains and isolated flooding in the northern tier, but also all modes of severe weather. This includes strong, long-track tornadoes.

The TemperatureRadar shows summery heat reaching far north into the Upper Midwest which will help fuel the storm machine. With large hail, damaging winds and strong tornadoes possible, it's important to have at least three ways to receive weather warnings, know your closest shelter location - not a mobile or manufactured home - and have your notification volume turned up in case severe weather hits after you go to sleep.

The wintry side of this overall storm system will impact the Rockies and Great Basin with mountain snow and cool rain showers. The WeatherRadar shows this activity becoming more widespread throughout the day.

Coming back to the summery temperatures, the TemperatureRadar shows its warmer hues all across the eastern two-thirds, especially across the southern tier. Highs in the 90s are possible in pockets of western Texas and the Deep South. Highs in the upper 80s could tie 20-plus-year-old records in Memphis, Tenn., and Greenwood, Miss., today too!

Weak forcing could produce a few showers and thunderstorms in the Southeast today and into Florida. Keep a close eye on the WeatherRadar for the timing.

Spring is heating up and you can watch the TemperatureRadar to see the warmer color tones move into your area.