Texas will once again be on alert for severe weather Wednesday as storms target the northern portion of the state. Parts of Florida are also at risk of severe storms Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said.
While Texas and Florida face the highest threat, more than 48 million people across the southern tier of the U.S. are at risk of severe weather Wednesday, the prediction center said.
“A few tornadoes, along with very large/destructive hail, and severe thunderstorm gusts, are expected over parts of north Texas this afternoon and evening,” the prediction center said. “Very large hail and damaging winds also are expected over parts of central Florida.”
Those storms in Texas and Florida will be part of a severe weather trend from the central U.S. throughout the Southeast, with the chance of storms extending from southeast Colorado to south Florida.
Elsewhere, the Upper Midwest and northern Plains continue to brace for historic river flooding and parts of Yosemite National will close due to flooding.
Here’s what to know about the national weather forecast for Wednesday.
‘Enhanced’ risk of storms in Texas and Florida
More than 12 million people are under an “enhanced” risk for severe weather in Texas and Florida, meaning numerous thunderstorms are possible, according to the weather service.
An “enhanced” risk area is level 3 of the 5-level severe storm risk scale.
Wednesday will be the second straight day severe thunderstorms will be possible in central and northern Texas, and the National Weather Service said the conditions could worsen in the afternoon and evening. .
Several storms across Central Texas on Wednesday night produced “very large, destructive hail,” the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said. Several tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued as training supercells moved through the region.
Isolated tornadoes are possible, AccuWeather said.
“Severe storms producing damaging winds and very large hail are expected,” the weather service said.
Cities in the “enhanced” risk area include:
- Dallas
- Fort Worth
- Arlington
- Plano
- Waco
Flood warnings remain in Upper Midwest
Flood warnings remain in place until further notice in the Upper Midwest, primarily around the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Parts of northeast North Dakota are also under flood warnings until Friday due to snowmelt.
Monday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 10 counties along the Mississippi River. The state’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management departments said representatives are working with affected communities to ensure “necessary resources to prepare and respond” to potential flooding.
Communities along the Upper Mississippi River scrambled Wednesday to prepare for near-record level swelling. Some were forced to evacuate while other created sandbag walls downstream and closed off flood-prone areas.
Flooding is highly anticipated this week into early next week as the river grows from the snowmelt in northern Minnesota.
In Iowa, forecasts predict the river will reach the third-highest level ever recorded when it crests Saturday about 160 miles to the south in Davenport, Iowa. John Haase, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, defines the “crest” as the highest water level the river is expected to reach before it starts to fall.
The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities expects at least 13 counties along the Mississippi River to be under a major flood risk now through May 9.
Parts of Yosemite National Park closing for flooding
The National Weather Service issued several flood watches and warnings for parts of California and Nevada due to flooding caused by snowmelt. Most of Yosemite Valley will be closed from Friday night until Wednesday, the National Park Service announced.
Yosemite’s snowpack is over 240% of its average, according to an April 1 snow survey. The snow measures above 8,000 feet and is the deepest ever recorded, the park service said.
The park service said the valley closes once the Merced River at Pohono Bridge is expected to rise above flood stage of 10 feet.
Severe weather threat throughout South, Southeast
Outside of northern Texas and central Florida, severe weather will be possible throughout the South and Southeast.
“The excessive rainfall and severe weather threats ramp up over the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Wednesday,” the NWS said.
The threat of severe weather will be in:
- Southeast Colorado
- Northeast New Mexico
- Central and southern Texas
- Oklahoma
- Southern Nebraska
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Central and southern Georgia
- Florida
Winter storm warnings in Colorado
Residents in Colorado’s mountains will continue to be under a winter storm warning through Wednesday morning, the NWS said, as heavy snowfall could leave up to 3 feet of accumulation in some higher elevations.
In Denver, the high will be 54 degrees with rain mixed with snow possible in the morning.
US weather watches and warnings
National weather radar
Contributing: N’dea Yancey-Bragg and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY; Francesca Block, Des Moines Register; The Associated Press
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.