Memorial Day weekend will be faced with severe storms that are expected to affect travel and outdoor activities in the central and eastern United States.
The confluence of travelers and adverse weather conditions could cause considerable inconvenience during this period.
On Thursday night, a series of storms caused significant damage in the Midwest, signaling the start of a stormy weekend.
Wind speeds reached up to 70 mph, hampering recovery efforts in small towns like Greenfield, Iowa.
This community is still dealing with the aftermath of a powerful tornado earlier in the week, which tragically claimed four lives, injured 35, and damaged more than 150 homes.
In the southwest, multiple tornadoes struck Oklahoma Thursday night, while Nebraska dealt with softball-sized hail and intense winds that uprooted trees and knocked out power lines.
US could face severe storms on Memorial Day weekend
As of Friday morning, more than 25,000 homes and businesses in Iowa and Nebraska were without power.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center warned of dangerous conditions from northeast Texas through the Tennessee Valley to the Quad Cities region.
Cities such as Dallas, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville and Milwaukee are preparing for the impact of strong storms. Flood watches and warnings are in effect in western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas and northern Mississippi.
On Friday, meteorologists with the Quad Cities office predicted strong winds and possible tornadoes in Iowa and Illinois. They warned that the threat continues and that more strong storms are expected.
The weekend forecast remains grim for the Plains and Midwest regions, already reeling from recent weather events.
Forecasters are especially concerned about supercells, the most powerful type of thunderstorm, which are expected to form over Kansas, Oklahoma and western Missouri on Saturday.
By Sunday, the storm system is likely to move northeastward, bringing severe weather to Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. The threat zone extends to the mid-Atlantic and northeast by Monday.
The Memorial Day travel plans of nearly 44 million people, according to forecasts by the American Automobile Association (AAA), are likely to be severely affected.
Roads and airports could face significant delays, with more than 38 million travelers expected by road and more than 3.5 million by plane.
Restrictions during holidays in the US
Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, described the surge in holiday travel as unprecedented in 20 years, predicting a busy summer travel season.
Disruptions to flights have already begun, with Thursday’s storms causing landings at major New York City airports and delays at mid-Atlantic airports, including those in Boston, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue in regions devastated by the storm. In Greenfield, Iowa, volunteers and authorities are scrambling to clear debris despite the constant threat of more storms.
Similar efforts are underway in Houston and Temple, Texas, where recent tornadoes and storms left tens of thousands of people without power and caused significant property damage.
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the United States is bracing for severe storms and heavy travel.
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