Central U.S. states face storm threat this week

May is just around the corner, as is the historical peak of severe weather season across the Lower 48. Signs are already pointing to an active stretch of severe weather to end the week, with rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms and perhaps a few tornadoes. The threat kicks off Thursday and will last through the weekend.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center is already highlighting Thursday, Friday and Saturday as having at least Level 2 out of 5 risks of severe weather. Thursday’s risk area covers parts of the Texas Panhandle, western Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas, with a more expansive zone Friday that spans from Des

Moines, Omaha and Kansas City, Mo., through Wichita, Oklahoma City and Dallas.

By the weekend, predictability wanes because of uncertainty in the placement and location of parent weather systems — but severe storms are again possible across the southern Plains, including Dallas and the majority of Oklahoma. Storms will probably continue Sunday into Monday.

It’s been an active start to tornado season for some, but quiet for others. The Plains and the Deep South — traditionally hot spots for tornado swarms in the springtime — have escaped thus far comparatively unscathed, whereas Ohio and Florida have faced round after round of storms.

Ohio has tallied 43 twisters in 2024, Illinois 40, and Florida is closing in on three dozen.