• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WATCH NEWS
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
  • ABOUT
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Contact WSFX
      • Sales & Programming
  • Montford Point
  • Welcome Home

Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV

Wilmington, NC | Local news Weather and Sports

  • Local News
    • Unsung Heroes
      • Nominate an Unsung Hero
  • Local Weather
  • National
  • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Panthers Game Schedule
  • Politics
    • NC Voter Information
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • What’s on TV?
  • MORE…
    • Technology
    • Science
    • Lifestyle
    • What’s Happening Wilmington

Midwest braces for storms, tornadoes amid coronavirus, stay at home orders

March 28, 2020 By Robert Gearty

Close to 40 million people in the Midwest have a new worry this weekend as they deal with the coronavirus and stay at home orders—lashing rain from severe storms that may bring tornadoes.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center says a “severe-weather outbreak is expected for portions of the Midwest” Saturday afternoon and evening.

“A few long-tracked, significant tornadoes are possible, along with large, damaging hail and severe gusts,” the center added.

CORONAVIRUS AND TORNADO SHELTERS: HERE’S WHAT FORECASTERS SAY YOU SHOULD DO DURING A WARNING

AccuWeather reported that the main severe weather threat will arise as a storm system, which will unleash snow in the Rockies, emerges from the region and tracks northeastward across the Plains and then the Upper Midwest.

Lightning is seen in the sky over the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, March 26, 2020. Strong winds and hail are forecast for the area.
(AP)

Saturday’s severe weather threat may extend as far to the north as central Iowa and southern Wisconsin and as far to the south as northeastern Texas and northwestern Louisiana, according to the weather forecaster.

Large metro areas of Chicago, St. Louis, Davenport, Iowa, and Little Rock, Arkansas, are among the areas at risk.

MISSISSIPPI TORNADO LEVELS DOLLAR GENERAL STORE, DAMAGES OTHER BUILDINGS

“Storms from northern Missouri and southern Iowa to central Illinois may have the greatest potential for tornadoes on Saturday, but this threat area may lift northward later in the day and early in the evening,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Knopick said.

Weather.com advised people who may need to use a community shelter in a tornado threat to check on the status of that shelter well in advance, given the turbulent status of coronavirus precautions.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service issued guidance Friday for severe weather during the coronavirus pandemic.

“At this time, IEMA and the NWS are recommending that your first priority should be to protect yourself from a potential tornado. However, the decision to open a community shelter will ultimately be at the discretion of local officials,” the statement said adding it would be wise to check with local officials to ensure they will be open.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“If you rely on community shelters, now is a good time to explore other options that might keep you safe from a tornado while also limiting your potential exposure to COVID-19.”

Filed Under: National Headlines

Primary Sidebar

 

Follow Us On Facebook



TRENDING NOW

Here’s your chance to give back on #GivingTuesday

Sheriff’s office donates $198,585 from settlement to schools

New York Grand Jury in Trump Criminal Probe Gets Day Off, Indictment Wait Continues

Addiction treatment center to expand services, double bed count with purchase of new facility

A 27-Year-Old Maryland Woman Faces 40 Years in Prison for Strangling Her 92-Year-Old Roommate

Live updates from quarterback pro days

Footer

PUBLIC FILE INFO

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact Isabella Gano by phone at
(910) 343-8826 or by email at Isabella.gano@foxwilmington.com

 
 » WSFX FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

SITE MAP

  • Local Headlines
  • Coronavirus
  • Local Weather
  • National Headlines
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Health

WSFX TV

  • Livestream Newscast
  • Meet Our Team
  • Sales & Programming
  • WELCOME HOME
  • Go With The Pros
  • Medically Speaking
  • WHAT’S ON FOX

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WSFX TV · Wilmington NC · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy