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(CNN) — Two separate systems will bring severe storms to the US in the coming days, with threats including tornadoes, destructive winds, hail and even flooding.
About 40 million people from Ohio to Connecticut are under the threat of severe storms starting Sunday afternoon. There is a risk of Level 3 out of 5 severe storms across eastern Ohio to northern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh. Major cities such as New York and Philadelphia will also have a chance of experiencing severe weather this Sunday, as there is a level 1 out of 5 risk of severe storms.
On Monday and Tuesday, a new system will form across the central United States, bringing the threat of severe storms from Texas to South Dakota.
Destructive winds, large hail and some tornadoes are possible this Monday afternoon and overnight. Also, there could be a level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms in western Oklahoma and northern Texas. A level 2 out of 5 risk surrounds that area and includes Kansas City, Wichita and Oklahoma City.
Storms will increase this Monday afternoon and move east overnight.
Since overnight storms are likely in these areas, make sure you can receive weather alerts before going to sleep. Research shows that nighttime tornadoes are more than twice as deadly as daytime ones. Nighttime tornadoes are difficult to detect in the dark, and sleepers may not be aware that danger is approaching.
Even before the storms begin, there will be winds gusting up to 45 mph (72 km/h) from western Nebraska to the Texas panhandle.
On Tuesday, the severe storm threat will move from southern Wisconsin into Louisiana. The main threat will be destructive winds, but hail or an isolated tornado is not ruled out. Tuesday’s most concentrated corridor of severe weather, especially hail and tornadoes, is expected to be over southern Iowa and Missouri during the mid-afternoon and early evening hours.
Flooding will also be a concern for both systems. The main concern for Sunday is in Pennsylvania, where the ground is already saturated due to a very wet April. Pittsburgh, for example, is already at its third wettest April on record at 190 mm. The record is mm since 1901. The forecast for Pittsburgh and much of western Pennsylvania is 25 to 50 mm, which would be enough to break the record.
On Monday there will be a risk of excessive rain from northern Texas to North Dakota. By Tuesday, most of the moisture will spread eastward, creating a risk of flooding primarily in the Midwest.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, are dealing with excess rain this month, with more than a dozen river gauges already in flood stage even before the next round of rain arrives.
From Nebraska to Wisconsin, widespread precipitation totals will range from 25 to 76 millimeters through Wednesday.
