Tornadoes in the USA are not uncommon. Nevertheless, tornado season in the regions most affected by the current storms usually begins later in spring or early summer. Furthermore, the frequency and the spatial extent are particularly striking and lead to dangerous conditions.
The reason for this storm front is a strong and dynamic jet stream that streams from the Southwest to the Plains (as shown on the jet stream map), providing strong wind shears. An intense low-pressure system stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the upper Midwest. Moisture increases as moist ocean air masses drift towards the centre of the low-pressure system, promoting thunderstorm formation. Tornadoes form very spontaneously. Also, how tornadoes are formed is not fully understood yet. In general, tornados usually arise through supercells, which are rotating thunderstorms. These facts underline why the prediction of tornadoes is challenging. As the tornado front moves towards the East, several states are affected by storms and warnings. All official warnings are shown on our weather warnings map, on our start page and on our iOS and Android apps.
The impact of the tornadoes covers states like Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. The "band" stretches from the Southwest to the Northeast within our weather maps, moving further into the East until Friday. Within this band, striking precipitation patterns can be observed, as shown in the screenshot of the daily precipitation map. This map is available for the next 7 days. For short-term planning, we recommend using our precipitation radar showing detailed nowcasting data in a seamless animation and minute-by-minute time steps, allowing us to track precipitation with a 1-hour forecast for the US precisely.
Furthermore, you can also analyse past tornadoes with our satellite map, available since December 2019. Click on the calendar icon in the lower right corner to select the date. The historical satellite maps are part of our point+ subscription, which you can also test free of charge for 14 days. The screenshot shows the precipitation band from 2023-04-05.
Throughout the Easter weekend, the rain will continue in the South part of the US. As a result, cities like New Orleans, Atlanta and Raleigh will be affected. However, it will most likely ease on Sunday, and the coming week is expected to be calmer.
