Multi-day severe outbreak starts today

A multi-day severe weather pattern starts today and lasts through the weekend. Millions are at risk for powerful winds, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes across the central and eastern U.S., with part of this risk being overnight Friday.

The WeatherRadar shows the main driver for this severe weather outbreak streaking across the Rockies and central Plains today before tapping into the warm air mass building along the eastern third, and especially along the Mississippi Valley.

Powerful storms will start during the Friday afternoon commute, with storms developing from far-eastern Nebraska to Missouri. These storms will intensify and move south and east into the late evening and overnight hours. All modes of severe weather are possible from southeast Minnesota to Mississippi and Alabama, with a strong focus on southern Iowa to northern Mississippi where a moderate risk for severe storms - level 4 out of 5 - has been issued.

Strong tornadoes (EF-2 or stronger) are possible in cities like Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo., Jackson, Miss., Springfield, Ill., and Mayfield, Ky., Friday night into early Saturday morning.

As our storm system moves east, the threat of severe weather extends from the southern Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast on Saturday. The Deep South will have the highest risk of severe storms Saturday afternoon into the overnight, with damaging winds, hail and violent tornadoes possible. A rare high risk, a level 5 out of 5 is in place from Jackson, Miss., to Birmingham, Ala.

Cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery, Ala., Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn., Jackson, Miss., and New Orleans, are at risk of tornadoes, powerful winds and hail on Saturday. Weather & Radar's expert meteorologists will provide updates on this dangerous weather through the weekend.