Easter weekend could bring severe storms and possible tornadoes from Texas to Virginia
Easter weekend tracks the beginning of the tornado season and forecasters are predicting a dangerous two or three days across a large swath of the South, with the likelihood of several severe thunderstorms, twisters and flooding from central Texas to Virginia.
The gathering storm will begin in Texas, with severe thunderstorms Saturday night in the Lone Star State and possibly into parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and even Georgia, along with heavy rain.
For Easter Sunday, the Deep South moves front and center, with tornadoes, widespread damaging winds and large hail possible from Houston to Raleigh, North Carolina, into Sunday night.
AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said he is "very worried" about the possibility of numerous twisters on Easter.
"Confidence is growing that we are looking for multiple tornadoes on the ground Sunday, and there is a possibility that this will be a tornado outbreak," Rayno said, according to AccuWeather.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center says "strong, long-tracked tornadoes and potentially widespread damaging wind are possible" into Sunday night.
Heavy rain is also expected into Monday morning over most of the same area as the storm moves east.
Forecasters caution that instead of hugging the upper Golf Coast, the storm system could develop farther north over the central states into Ohio Valley on Sunday and Sunday night. That could even bring some tornado threats to the mid-Atlantic coast on Monday.
Social distancing or tornado shelter: Which takes precedence?
With tornadoes in the weekend forecast, residents in severe weather zones may encounter new protocols in the coronavirus era of keeping social distance of 6 feet.
The National Weather Service in Alabama notes that decisions to open any community shelters are done at the local or county level and that residents should check with their community shelter managers to make sure they are open and if there are any local COVID-19 considerations.
"Certainly, wherever you choose to shelter from a tornado, you should use as many precautions as possible to inhibit the spread of COVID-19 as best as you can," the weather service says. "If you rely on public community shelters, now may be the time to explore other options that might keep you safer from severe weather and possibly limit your exposure to COVID-19."
AccuWeather meteorologist and emergency preparedness specialist Becky DePodwin said that if a tornado is nearby, residents should take cover in bathrooms with no exterior walls, stairwells or a basement.
The "main point is to put as many walls between you and the exterior walls,” she said.
Contributing: Doyle Rice
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Weather Easter Sunday: Severe storms, tornadoes forecast for South
