Feb 23, 2012; 9:44 AM ET
The risk of violent thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will affect the Tennessee and Ohio valleys later this afternoon into tonight.
According to Severe Weather Expert Henry Margusity, "Discrete thunderstorms are forecast to ignite in portions of southern Illinois, southern Indiana, southwestern Ohio, much of western and central Kentucky and much and western and central Tennessee this afternoon."
The setup has the potential to produce a few tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-1 strength. However, a few of the storms could be stronger.
The greatest risk for tornadoes would be from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., CST.
Cities in the path of the storms forecast to erupt include Carbondale and Mt. Vernon in Illinois, Paducah, Louisville, Owensboro, Hopkinsville and bowling Green in Kentucky, Evansville in Indiana, Cincinnati in Ohio, Clarksvile, Jackson and Nashville in Tennessee.
According to Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller, "There is a possibility of the risk of severe thunderstorms and a few tornadoes reaching to southeastern Arkansas and northern Mississippi at the last minute late today into this evening, if a protective layer in the atmosphere is compromised."
Regardless, a solid line of storms is forecast to develop this evening. This phenomenon is known as a squall line and is notorious for bringing high straight-line winds and a brief period of very heavy rain, while resulting in a reduced tornado threat. This line of storms is likely to affect areas from part of West Virginia southwestward to northern Mississippi tonight.
In addition to the risk of a few tornadoes, many of the storms will bring strong wind gusts, hail, blinding downpours and frequent lightning strikes.
A number of communities could be hit with damaging winds gusts, power outages and destructive large hail this afternoon into tonight.
Folks planning on being on the road or outdoors during this time should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and should keep alert on official watches and warnings issued for their area.
As the storms approach and move through prospective areas, disruptions to flights are likely to occur at area airports.
North of the severe weather threat area, a snowstorm will unfold from Chicago to Detroit tonight.
The risk of severe thunderstorms will develop along the southern Atlantic Seaboard during Friday.
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