Saturday's severe risk: Swaths of damaging winds & large hail

High pressure centered over the Southeast continues to stream impulses of energy and low-pressure systems over the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys. Saturday's setup will be like Thursday's when a derecho swept by parts of Indiana. Saturday's chance also brings extensive damaging winds, and we cannot rule out that a derecho might develop.

There are over 46 million people at risk of experiencing some severe storms on Saturday afternoon into the evening. Southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky are in the bullseye for the most prolific storms that could develop the most damaging winds. St. Louis, Mo., Columbus, Louisville, Ky., through Bloomington, In., should monitor the evolution of storms closely as there will likely be severe storms moving through that could develop damaging winds more than 80 mph.

Some severe thunderstorms are also possible across parts near and around the Appalachian Mountains. The late afternoon and early evening are when the most severe storms that could produce strong winds that could cause damage and large hail are expected.

Please make sure to have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts and if you are in a warned area or an area at risk, limit your time outdoors. Remember, when thunder roars head indoors. Severe storms will be moving quickly through some areas, so by the time you hear thunder there might not be enough time to take shelter.

The risk for severe storms will also be present on Sunday but to a lesser extent. Currently, there is a slight risk, level 2 out of 5 on the severity scale, across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys into the Mid-Atlantic. Locally damaging winds and hail will be the main threat with the afternoon and early evening storms. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will affect most of the Northeast throughout the weekend and into the 4th of July holiday.