Severe Weather, 'Strong' Tornadoes Hitting U.S. Region This Week

Last week, severe weather devastated the middle of the United States, with tornadoes ripping through the region and claiming eight lives in Oklahoma and Michigan. Now, more dangerous conditions are on the way, forecasters predict.

Starting Monday, the next couple of days will feature more powerful storms, including potentially "strong" tornadoes, throughout the Midwest and parts of the South.

Southern states in the line of fire Monday

According to Weather.com, most of today's severe weather threat is concentrated in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"Hail, possibly golf ball size or larger, is the main threat with these storms. Strong wind gusts, tornadoes and locally flooding rain are lower threats, but are also possible," Weather.com wrote.

Tornado threat expands on Tuesday

Weather.com says the potential for tornadoes is highest for Tuesday afternoon and evening in parts of Texas and the Midwest.

"The greatest tornado risk Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night is expected to develop from Missouri to Indiana," said AccuWeather senior meterologist Adam Douty.

Additionally, severe thunderstorms are also on the docket, with the Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Kansas City, Missouri metro areas all potentially being affected, AccuWeather added.

"A complex scenario for severe thunderstorm potential is expected on Tuesday and Tuesday night from the Southern Plains to the Mid-MS Valley/southern Great Lakes vicinity," says the NWS Storm Prediction Center, adding that "all severe hazards appear possible, especially within a corridor across portions of TX, and a second corridor from northern MO into northern/central IL and northwest IN."

Storms shift to the east on Wednesday

Both AccuWeather and Weather.com are projecting storms to move eastward Wednesday.

"As the storm tracks east into the Great Lakes, so will the risk of severe thunderstorms," AccuWeather says. "The threat will stretch across a dozen states Wednesday and Wednesday night from eastern Texas to western Pennsylvania and western New York."

Heavy winds are the biggest damage threat in those areas, Weather.com writes, but local tornadoes are also possible. Storms will also continue into the night in the Southeast from the Tennessee Valley to the northern Gulf Coast.

"Severe weather is possible, with isolated tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail up to quarter size as threats," says the NWS Birmingham office. "In addition, localized flooding is possible in any storms that move over the same areas. With strong winds and heavy rainfall, trees can easily be knocked down."