Tornado Watch issued for Indianapolis as dangerous severe storms threaten

Tornado Watches are posted for millions as numerous severe thunderstorms fire up from the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley southwestward through the Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys on Sunday afternoon. The storms will continue to track eastward into Sunday night before threatening the East Coast on Monday.

DETROIT – More than 109 million Americans from the southern Great Lakes region to as far south as Texas and Louisiana face a dangerous severe weather threat on Sunday, with storms that could pack destructive wind gusts, very large hail and strong tornadoes.

As the strong cold front driving Sunday’s severe storms charges eastward through Monday, some 92 million people from the Northeast southwestward to the central Gulf Coast region will be threatened by another round of severe weather to kick off the new workweek.

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This map shows the severe storm threat on Sunday, March 30, and Monday, March 31, 2025.
(FOX Weather)

Where is severe weather happening now?

Three-hour radar loop. Warning boxes are color coded as: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in yellow, Tornado Warnings in red, Tornado Warnings with confirmed tornado in purple, Flash Flood Warnings in green, and Flash Flood Emergencies in pink.
(FOX Weather)

The Storm Prediction Center has issued Tornado Watches for seven states as the major storm system barrels across the Midwest and Tennessee Valley.

The severe storms produced wind gusts as high as 85 mph near Hoopeston, Illinois, on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Additionally, Flash Flood Emergencies were issued Sunday afternoon for parts of northern Jackson County in southern Mississippi after emergency management reported that roads were impassable in the area. According to the NWS, between 6 and 8 inches of rain had fallen, and an additional 2-4 inches was possible.

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Where are severe storms expected on Sunday and Sunday night?

Numerous severe thunderstorms are expected from the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley southwestward through the Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys, with the storms continuing to track eastward into Sunday night.

Initially, the primary threat from the severe storms will be large hail, some of which could be massive (2 inches or larger in diameter, or larger than a lime or hen egg). Several tornadoes are also possible before damaging wind gusts become the more prominent severe weather threat Sunday evening and into the overnight hours.

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This map shows the severe storm threat on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
(FOX Weather)

The SPC has posted a level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk from southern Lower Michigan, including Detroit, southwestward to northeastern Texas and northern Louisiana. These areas face a significant threat of potentially destructive winds that could cause widespread power outages and tree damage.

It should also be noted that any tornadoes spawned on Sunday have the potential to be strong (EF-2 or higher), specifically in a corridor stretching from southern Indiana southwestward to northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas.

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These maps shows the tornado, damaging wind and large hail threats on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
(FOX Weather)

Where are severe storms expected on Monday?

Strong to severe thunderstorms packing threats of fairly widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes are expected on Monday from portions of the Northeast southwestward to the central Gulf Coast region.

The SPC has posted a level 2 out of 5 severe weather risk that stretches from central and upstate New York to southeastern Louisiana. However, a level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk covers much of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, from Virginia to Alabama.

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This map shows the severe storm threat on Monday, March 31, 2025.
(FOX Weather)

While the highest concentration of wind damage is forecast to be centered over parts of Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, a notable threat extends up much of the East Coast, including major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor such as Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

The damaging winds could take down trees and power lines, potentially causing widespread power outages in some areas.

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These maps shows the tornado, damaging wind and large hail threats on Monday, March 31, 2025.
(FOX Weather)

Another severe storm threat looms for midweek

By midweek, more severe weather is predicted to emerge over many of the same regions that were expected to be hit hard on Sunday.

The threat begins overnight Tuesday from central and northeastern Kansas eastward to northwestern Illinois, where large hail will likely be the main severe risk.

Wednesday’s severe weather risk area is eerily similar to Sunday’s, stretching from the southern Great Lakes region to Texas and Louisiana. Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are all potential hazards from the severe storms.

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Additional severe thunderstorms are also possible on Thursday in a corridor stretching from Ohio and western Pennsylvania southwestward to the Ark-La-Tex region.