Severe Weather Likely in the South This Weekend; Alabama, Georgia, Florida Among States At Risk for Storms

Big changes continue in the South late this weekend. Warmer air will return and a low pressure system will track east from the Plains, which could trigger severe thunderstorms as Thanksgiving travelers begin their journeys.

This system will likely bring severe thunderstorms from the Lower Mississippi Valley to parts of the Southeast. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, locally heavy rain and even a few tornadoes are possible.

(MORE: Tornadoes Confirmed in the South | November Tornadoes)

High pressure will slide off the East Coast over the weekend, turning winds around to a southerly direction for the eastern U.S. These southerly winds will bring much warmer temperatures by Sunday.

This southerly flow will also bring moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward into central and eastern Texas ahead of a low pressure system approaching from the west. As an upper-level trough and a strong disturbance slide east, shear will increase and there will likely be enough instability to produce severe thunderstorms.  

(MORE: TOR:CON tornado forecast | Severe Weather Tracker)

Severe Forecast Timing

Sunday: As the cold front pushes east, the risk of thunderstorms will be found from Louisiana northward into southeastern Arkansas, Tennessee, and eastward into Alabama, central and southern Georgia, northern Florida and southern South Carolina. 

(FORECAST: Houston | Little Rock | New Orleans | Montgomery)

Additional Impacts

Widespread rain will also be found over the eastern third of the country Sunday into Monday, which could impact travel plans as well.

Rain is expected into the Northeast and Southeast on Sunday and Monday.

(FORECAST: Chicago | Atlanta | New York)

Ahead of this system, temperatures will moderate. The warm temperatures will be welcomed throughout the East, especially after the arctic chill much of the country has experienced and a few record highs are even possible.

However, the warmth will not last long as another shot of cooler air will be found behind this system.

Snow showers and windy conditions are also expected to develop on the backside of this system starting Sunday night in the northern Plains and spreading into parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes on Monday.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Severe Weather Outbreak October 2014