Thunderstorms and hail blanketed parts of the central United States Monday night as the storm moved east. This was announced by the National Weather Service.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
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Tornado warnings had been issued for parts of Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, but they expired Monday night. More than 8 million people in the central United States were under tornado watches, which were set to expire at midnight.
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Thunderstorms are expected to spread into the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic on Tuesday.
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The National Weather Service said central Ohio was at risk for tornadoes Tuesday afternoon, some of which could travel several miles. The risk of tornadoes spreading south across the Tennessee Valley into the Gulf of Mexico is low.
Forecast details:
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, said large parts of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas are at risk of strong winds and hail larger than 2 inches in diameter.
“Area most at risk on Monday stretches from central and eastern Oklahoma to southeastern Kansas and central Missouri,” the center said.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, around 24 million people live in areas at increased risk of severe weather (ranked third on a five-point scale).
Officials in Denton County, Texas, said storm watchers reported hailstones measuring 1.5 inches in diameter in the area Monday night. Earlier, local television station NBC DFW reported that residents were putting tarpaulins on roofs and taping windows to protect their homes from damage.
Forecasters say tornadoes are possible in some areas, weeks after tornadoes ripped through Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, killing three people.
A tornado warning was in effect for St. Louis Monday night. City officials said no tornado touched down in the city, but noted that nearby areas reported minor damage from winds and heavy rain.
The storm is expected to intensify as it moves east into the Ohio Valley, bringing heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding, the weather service said.
Heavy rain, winds and thunderstorms are expected to spread across the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic region on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and western Maryland through Tuesday.
Precipitation totals are expected to exceed 2 inches in many areas and reach up to 5 inches in others.
Forecasters said they would closely monitor the system, as two separate low-pressure systems over the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic are expected to merge by midweek, culminating in the Northeast.
“By Thursday morning, it's going to consolidate into a pretty strong storm off the coast of New England,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Hurley said.
nor'easter More than 6 inches of snow possible It crossed over the Great Lakes and Northeast later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.
John Keefe Contributed to the report.