Stormy Conditions Forecast to Persist Through Early Week

Easter Sunday is here, unofficially signaling that spring is here to stay. But what will Mother Nature have to say about the weather for the holiday and in the days ahead? Read on for all of the most updated forecast details.

Stormy Weather Pattern to Persist Through Holiday and Into Next Week

Forecasters are warning that it is going to be a stormy Easter and start to the new work week for much of the central U.S. Several waves of severe storms are forecast to unleash across the nation's midsection, bringing the risk of large hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes. At least one dozen states will be in the impact zone for Sunday's action with the storms expected to move to the east on Monday.

The timing of Sunday's storms will complicate holiday activities such as outdoor church services and Easter egg hunts. Meanwhile, travel could be disrupted on Monday as Americans head back to work. Unfortunately, communities that were impacted by the flash flooding and tornadoes at the start of the month will once again be in the crosshairs for severe weather.

It has already been a rocky start to the holiday weekend for millions of Americans. A cluster of rain showers and thunderstorms is currently impacting a long stretch of land from northern Texas and up into upstate New York. These storm cells put a damper on outdoor activities on Saturday and into the overnight hours.

The greatest risk of severe weather on Easter Sunday will be in Arkansas and the Missouri Valley. This region will want to be aware of the chance of high winds and large hail. Tornadoes popping up along the rapidly moving squall lines are another issue to be concerned about when out and about on the holiday.

St. Louis will continue to be at the heart of the action to start the day after dealing with widespread storms on Saturday. The Arch City will wake up to lingering rain showers before the moisture finally clears out in the latter part of the day. However, scattered thunderstorms will be back in the picture for the evening hours. It will remain breezy in St. Louis with winds out of the southeast at 10 to 20 mph. Highs will reach the upper 70s before falling to about 53 degrees overnight.

Little Rock will get a break from the rain and storms to start the holiday, but forecasters are warning that the threat will erupt again in the afternoon and evening hours. The capital city is expecting winds to whip around from the south at 15 to 25 mph. It will be a warm day with a high in the low 80s and overnight readings bottoming out in the mid 50s.

Monday's Forecast Calls for the Storms to Move to the East

The epicenter of the storm activity will push farther to the east on Monday. Thunderstorm development is possible in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys just in time for the morning commute. The storm cells are likely to gain intensity as they reignite again on Monday afternoon, producing hail, damaging winds, and periods of heavy rain.

Cities such as Nashville will be dodging thunderstorms in the morning hours. The Music City is forecast to see cooler temperatures as the frontal boundary arrives, bringing the mercury from a high in the upper 80s on Sunday down into the low 70s on Monday. Winds will be out of the southwest at 10 to 15 mph while overnight lows will dip to about 56 degrees.

The rain will take longer to arrive in areas farther to the east in Pittsburgh. The metro area in western Pennsylvania is forecast to see rain showers develop in the afternoon. You can also expect a high of about 80 degrees, lows that drop to the 50-degree mark, and winds out of the south-southwest at 10 to 20 mph.

It will be a windy and wet day to the north in Cleveland. This part of the Great Lakes is bracing for winds out of the south-southwest at 20 to 30 mph and the threat of thunderstorms. Highs will reach the low 70s before slipping into the upper 40s overnight.

The action will not dissipate much heading through the rest of the week. Meteorologists are predicting that more rounds of rain and thunderstorms will roam the central U.S. in the days ahead. While the rain is good news for the High Plains that have been experiencing drought conditions, the moisture will also continue to hammer the portions of the region that have been grappling with flooding.

The atmospheric elements in place for the coming week will be favorable for the development of more storms. The greatest risk will be across the central and southern Plains. We will continue to update this forecast as the track of the storms and their anticipated intensity become more precise.

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