Tornadoes, wind, and hail possible as a powerful storm targets the South this weekend

A complex and messy weather pattern is developing for the weekend. In addition to a rain, snow, and wind threat for much of the eastern U.S., a severe threat is growing for the South.

A collision of warm and moist air from the Gulf meeting up with colder air pushing in from the north along with a deepening surface low may spell trouble for folks stretching from the South to the East Coast as we head into the weekend. The WeatherRadar will light up with strong storms, and you will want to make sure you are prepared for this threat.

The first round of potentially severe thunderstorms will likely occur Friday night in parts of northeastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, western and central Arkansas, southeastern Kansas, and southern Missouri. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted this area with a marginal risk, a level one out of five of severe storms, for tonight. Damaging winds, heavy downpours, and hail are the main concerns.

Storms will linger into Saturday, but the next round of severe thunderstorms will wait until Saturday afternoon, continuing into the overnight. Saturday's severe risk will occur over a broader area that encompasses the middle and lower Mississippi Valley and much of the Ohio Valley. With the risk of severe weather after dark, it's important to turn on those Weather & Radar app alerts.

A slight risk, a level two out of five of severe storms, extends from eastern Texas into Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Cities like Lufkin, Texas, Shreveport, La., Greenville, Miss., and Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., need to be alert for damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. A marginal risk encompasses areas around the slight risk including New Orleans and Louisville, Ken. Any storms that develop on their own away from others will have the greatest potential to produce tornadoes.

Later Saturday night, as the storms push into the zone from Ohio to central Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, southeastern Louisiana, and east into Mississippi and Alabama, they will mostly pack a high wind and flash flood threat. At this point, the storms will take shape into a solid line of intense weather.

The severe risk shifts east Sunday, with a marginal risk stretching from the Florida Panhandle and along the East Coast into Virginia. Damaging winds and brief tornadoes cannot be ruled out Sunday afternoon and evening.