The severe threat has increased for parts of the Southeast on Wednesday. There is plenty of heat and moisture prepping the atmosphere, making it more unstable during the late afternoon and evening hours.

These severe storms put over 40 million people at risk, with over 4 million at the greatest risk of numerous storms developing and becoming widespread and intense. There is also the chance for a few tornadoes to develop across northern Mississippi, Alabama, and the southern fringe of Tennessee.

Cities like Tupelo, Huntsville, Shelbyville, Memphis, and Birmingham will likely experience severe storms from Wednesday late afternoon into Thursday after midnight.

The chance for severe storms will also affect southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, and central Alabama going through Atlanta, Georgia, and extending northward toward Asheville, North Carolina. There could still be short-lived scattered severe thunderstorms, which could produce damaging winds, hail, and a tornado or two.

Nighttime Severe storms are particularly more worrisome as most people are sleeping and not staying weather aware. Make sure to have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts and know what to do in case a severe thunderstorm is affecting your location. Read more about severe weather safety, here.