Tornadoes came fast and furious in March. Will April also start with a bang?
As a violent and deadly month of tornadoes comes to an end, the atmosphere over parts of the U.S. will continue to produce outbreaks of severe storms.
As a violent and deadly month of tornadoes comes to an end Monday, the atmosphere over the central and eastern U.S. will continue to produce widespread outbreaks of severe thunderstorms as the calendar turns to April.
Overall, the setup supporting this multiday severe weather threat is typical for March and the rest of spring, Weather.com reported, as a sharp southward plunge of the jet stream swings out of the West toward the central and eastern states.
"As the spring weather pattern continues with a tug-of-war between warm and humid air from the Gulf and chilly winds from Canada, additional rounds of severe weather will follow," AccuWeather said Sunday.
Wednesday could be another violent day in the nation's midsection: "Wednesday (April 2) could end up being a carbon copy of Sunday, in terms of storm position and expected intensity," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bill Deger warned. "Another high risk zone is in the forecast from northeastern Arkansas to western Kentucky and southern Indiana."
March madness: An active month for tornadoes
March 2025 has been yet another active month for tornadoes in the U.S.: More than 150 confirmed reports have been recorded so far as of Monday, March 31.
A typical March sees about 80 twisters across the U.S.
The most active March on record was 2022 with 234 tornadoes, according to the website U.S. Tornadoes. The second most was 208 in 2023 and the third most was 192 in 2017.
Why is it so stormy?
March and April are two of the most active months for severe weather in the U.S., and this year will continue that trend.
"Spring is a battleground season that's notorious for unleashing a large range of extreme weather conditions," said Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce in an online report. "Tornadoes, major snowstorms, flooding rain, high winds and big temperature fluctuations go hand-in-hand with the season," he said.
Wild Wednesday on tap
Some of the areas that had storms Sunday are the same ones lashed by a series of tornadoes and storms two weeks ago that left more than 40 people dead. And the same region is in the crosshairs on Wednesday.
Aan outbreak of severe storms is possible Wednesday and Wednesday night in the Lower Great Lakes, the Mid-Mississippi Valley and the "ArkLaTex" region, according to the Storm Prediction Center. "Severe wind gusts, very large hail and significant tornadoes are expected," the center said. Cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Memphis, and Nashville are in the zone of greatest risk.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said: "The harsh nature of the storms expected to develop across the Mississippi River basin around midweek will pose an additional threat to any residents who are exposed to destruction a few days prior.
"While there will be a brief lull in activity on Monday and Tuesday for some areas to allow for cleanup and recovery, another quick-hitting blow can exacerbate impacts and recovery time, Roys said.