Tornado Watch issued for storm-battered Kentucky as renewed severe weather threat covers 60 million

Severe storms target Mississippi, Tennessee Valleys

Thunderstorms are ongoing across Arkansas and Indiana on Tuesday morning. Storms are expected to develop across the Tennessee Valley Tuesday afternoon. All modes of severe weather are possible in association with this system including tennis ball-sized hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes.

Fast Facts

• The lower Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley, mid-South and Deep South could see multiple rounds of severe weather Tuesday.
• Tornado Watch issued in Kentucky - including London – as the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys face the risk of strong tornadoes.
• Damaging wind gusts of up to 75 mph and flash flooding are also a significant threat.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nearly 60 million people in the central and southern U.S. are once again under threat of severe weather Tuesday, including most of Kentucky, which just endured a tornado outbreak last Friday that claimed at least 19 lives in the state. This is part of a relentless eight-day severe weather pattern that began last Wednesday for the middle of the country.

Tuesday's threat is centered on Kentucky, Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and northern Alabama, where a volatile atmosphere will allow strong thunderstorms to develop beginning in the mid-afternoon. All modes of severe weather, including large hail, damaging wind gusts and the possibility of strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher) are on the table.

A broad area covering the lower Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley, mid-South and Deep South is expected to see multiple rounds of strong thunderstorms, which will track into the region from the west throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has already issued a Tornado Watch for portions of eastern Kentucky, northeast Tennessee, extreme southwest Virginia and Western West Virginia until 8 p.m. ET for an initial line of strong thunderstorms moving through early Tuesday afternoon. Both London and Somerset, Kentucky, are inside the watch. 

LONDON, KENTUCKY, TORNADO SURVIVORS PILED INTO BATHTUBS, EMERGED TO FIND EVERYTHING GONE

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As the powerful upper-level system continues to move through the Midwest, renewed storms will continue to track from Missouri through Illinois and Indiana during the day and move into parts of Kentucky and the Ozarks. These severe thunderstorms will eventually sweep across the Tennessee Valley by Tuesday evening, once again putting areas still cleaning up from deadly tornadoes back under threat.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms for Kentucky, Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and northern Alabama. Small slivers of southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, northwestern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina are under that same threat level, as well.

TORNADOES DAMAGE HOMES IN ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA AS SEVERE WEATHER TEARS ACROSS CENTRAL US

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Kentucky to Tennessee Valley threatened by more strong tornadoes

The greatest risk of strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher) will be centered over storm-weary Kentucky, as well as Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and northern Alabama, covering cities like Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville in Tennessee, Lexington in Kentucky and Birmingham in Alabama.

London, Kentucky, which was one of the hardest-hit areas by Friday's tornado outbreak, is very close to the area at risk of strong tornadoes.

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London, Kentucky, slowly recovers as next tornado threat looms Tuesday

London, Kentucky, was severely impacted by last weekend's tornado outbreak, and now bracing for another round of severe storms as a new system threatens vulnerable parts of the Bluegrass State on Tuesday. FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres is on the ground in London with the latest.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned people who use NOAA radio for their weather alerts that the service will be down for the next several days.

The National Weather Service said on its website that this is part of a "necessary scheduled system update."

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Conditions will become favorable for damaging wind gusts and potential tornado development beginning in the afternoon.

"This is going to come in with straight-line winds," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "Not only are you going to have the chance for tornadoes, but you could have wind gusts of up to 70 mph." 

Merwin also highlighted that Nashville, Tennessee, could have two rounds of significant thunderstorms, one around dinnertime and the other after sunset.

She cautioned that nighttime tornadoes will be possible.

NIGHTTIME TORNADOES FAR MORE LIKELY TO TURN DEADLY THAN DAYTIME ONES

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Kentucky, Tennessee also face flash flood threat

Tuesday's storms will also bring heavy rain to central and southern Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, where widespread totals of 1-2 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts exceeding 3 inches.

This rain could hamper tornado recovery efforts in Kentucky.

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat for portions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

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