Severe Storms Threaten South, Midwest, Great Lakes

A broad storm system will bring rain from the South and Midwest into the Great Lakes this weekend, with the heaviest impacts expected from Saturday afternoon into Sunday. The greatest severe‑storm risk stretches from northeast Texas and eastern Oklahoma into Arkansas and the lower/mid‑Mississippi Valley — including Little Rock, Memphis, Shreveport and Paducah — where damaging straight‑line winds, isolated tornadoes and large hail are possible. Forecasts call for widespread modest totals (roughly 0.5–1 inch) with localized heavier amounts of 1–3 inches near St. Louis and across southeast Michigan that could cause brief flash or nuisance flooding. The threat is amplified by unusually warm Gulf air ahead of the cold front, and gusty winds are expected behind the system into Sunday and beyond, potentially complicating outdoor plans and harvest operations. The National Weather Service urges residents in the risk zones to monitor watches and warnings and be prepared to adjust weekend activities.