By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
Mar 16, 2012; 12:20 PM ET
As the St. Patrick's Day Storm pushes slowly inland from the West, there is the potential for an outbreak of violent thunderstorms and tornadoes over the Plains starting on Sunday.
Essentially two seasons will do battle over the Plains during the first part of next week: summer and winter.
As colder air tries to push out of the Rockies, it will cause warm, moist air to rise violently and will be given extra energy by a strong jet stream overhead.
While the actual magnitude of the outbreak has yet to be determined, indications are that there is an elevated risk of tornadoes.
During Sunday, the risk extends from portions of western Texas to the Dakotas.
During Monday, the risk extends from central, northeastern and South Texas to Missouri.
The potential for severe thunderstorms (including tornadoes) will extend beyond Monday and will push farther east as next week progresses.
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In addition to the tornado threat, severe thunderstorms will bring the whole nine yards of danger with large hail, damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning and flash flooding.
Prior to the risk next week, there will be a few pockets of locally strong, drenching thunderstorms over the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, western Texas and the Southeast through Saturday as the May-like pattern continues.
In addition, the St. Patrick's Day storm will bring locally severe thunderstorms over portions of California and the Southwest over this weekend.
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