NOAA expects a tornado outbreak in the Southeast on March 15

Tornado outbreak expected in the southeastern U.S. today

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center warns that the conditions are right today (March 15, 2025) for a tornado outbreak in the southeastern U.S. It specifically calls for the possibility of long-track intense to potentially violent tornadoes up to EF4 strength. The latest warning, as of 8:00 a.m. CDT, states:

A tornado outbreak is expected across the central Gulf Coast States and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley. Numerous significant tornadoes, some of which should be long-track and potentially violent, are expected this afternoon and evening. The most dangerous tornado threat should begin across eastern Louisiana and Mississippi during the late morning to afternoon, spread across Alabama late today into the evening, and reach western parts of the Florida Panhandle and Georgia tonight.

Get the latest information on today’s severe weather at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.

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NOAA issued a rare Day 2 high risk for storms in the Southeast

Yesterday, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a rare Day 2 high risk for severe weather for the southeastern U.S., sometimes called Dixie Alley. This is only the third time NOAA has issued a high risk one day out (what it calls the Day 2 outlook).

The last time NOAA issued a Day 2 high risk was in 2012, more than a decade ago. And the other time was in 2006. The storms that sprang to life on these two days became infamous. They generated 47 tornadoes in 2006 and 83 tornadoes in 2012.

The pink region on the map above means that if you are in that area, you have a 30% chance of tornadoes within 25 miles (40 km) of you. Make your preparations now. Make sure you stay informed of the changing weather situation. And know where you can go for safety if you are in a tornado-warned area.

Bottom line: NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center calls for the possibility of a tornado outbreak in the Deep South today, March 15, 2025. This region could see long-track intense to potentially violent tornadoes up to EF4 strength.

Via NOAA

Read more: Be a storm spotter and help during severe weather