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Pay attention! Severe storms likely Friday evening. Destructive winds, very large hail, and strong tornadoes possible

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Pay attention! Severe storms likely Friday evening. Destructive winds, very large hail, and strong tornadoes possible

May 16, 2025
Weather blog

Severe thunderstorms are possible today. The time for the highest threat will be after 5PM.

moderate risk of severe storms this evening 
...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
   KENTUCKY...NORTHERN AND WESTERN TENNESSEE...SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...FAR
   SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHERN INDIANA...FAR SOUTHWEST OHIO...

A significant severe weather outbreak is possible late this afternoon
into this evening in the entirety of the Cincinnati tristate. All severe 
hazards are possible, including damaging winds, very large hail, and tornadoes, 
some of which could be strong.

In addition, locally heavy rain could result in flash flooding.
    ...SUMMARY... A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is likely this afternoon 
into tonight across parts of the mid Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. This will 
include intense supercells associated with tornadoes, large hail and wind damage. 
Several strong tornadoes are expected, and a long-track high-end tornado will be 
possible. From the evening into the overnight, a bowing line segment is expected to form 
with potential for tornadoes and damaging winds, some possibly greater than 75 mph.

Reminder: Weather updates on Facebook are not reliable. In severe weather, seconds count. 
Tune to NOAA weather radio or local media for timely updates.

Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks - issued by the Storm Prediction Center. THUNDERSTORMS (no label - winds to 40 mph / small hail): No severe thunderstorms expected. Lightning/flooding threats exist with all thunderstorms. 1-MARGINAL (MRGL - winds 40-60 mph / hail up to 1 inch / low tornado risk): Isolated severe thunderstorms possible. Limited in duration and/or coverage and/or intensity. 2-SLIGHT (SLGT - one or two tornadoes / reports of strong winds, wind damage / hail 1 inch in general, 2 inches isolated): Scattered severe storms possible. Short-lived and/or not widespread, isolated intense storms possible. 3-ENHANCED (ENH - a few tornadoes / several reports of wind damage / damaging hail, 1-2 inches): Numerous severe storms possible. More persistent and/or widespread, a few intense4-MODERATE (MDT - strong tornadoes / widespread wind damage / destructive hail, 2 inches plus): Widespread severe storms likely. Long-lived, widespread and intense5-HIGH (HIGH - tornado outbreak / derecho): Widespread severe storms expected. Long-lived, very widespread and particulary intense.

Know where to go when sheltering at home from a tornado. Quickly move to your basement and bring your emergency supply kit. If you have no basement, move to an interior room with no windows. Top floors DO NOT protect you. Exterior rooms and room with windows DO NOT protect you. No place outside is safe from a tornado.

TORNADOES AND ROAD SAFETY. 1) What To Do: Get off the road. The best option is to drive to a designated shelter, basement or safe room. The next best option is a small, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. 2) What No To Do: Do not seek refuge in a vehicle, outside or under an overpass. A highway overpass does not provide safety from a tornado. Do not seek shelter under an overpass or a tree. This puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.

Tornado Sheltering Guidelines: Seek the best available area immediately when a Tornado Warning is issued. Your chance of surviving a tornado is exceelent if you follow these guidelines. Worst Options: mobile homes, vehicles, underneath a highway overpass. Bad Options: Large open rooms like gymnasiums, manufactured housing. Good Options: Interior room of a well-constructed home or building, basement. Best Options: Above or below ground Tornado Storm Shelter (NSSA/ICC 500 compliant, recommended by FEMA) or a specifically-designed FEMA Safe Room.

1. A Tornado Watch mean be prepared. A Tornado Watch is issued when a tornado is possible. Know your safe place, such as a storm shelter, basement, or interior hall away from windows, and be prepared to act if a Warning is issued. 2. A Tornado Warning means take action! A Tornado Warning is issued when a tornado is happening or about to happen. Immediately seek shelter in your safe place!

Have you ever noticed the wording 'This is a particularly danagerous situation' in some of the severe weather watches issued by the NWS Storm Prediction Center? This wording is likely used in Tornado Watches for rare situations when long-lived and intense tornadoes are likely. This enhanced wording may also accompany Severe Thunderstorm Watches for widespread and exceptionally intense straight-line wind events. Be prepared! Review your severe weather safety procedures. Know the safest place to seek refuge ahead of time. Consider canceling or postponing outdoor activities. Have multiple ways to receive a warning. Inform others of the heightened risk.

Wireless emergency alerts can save your life

Severe Weather can escalate quickly. While the possibility of tornadoes can be forecast ahead of time, they can form in minutes, day or night. Will you be prepared? Set up a way to get weather warnings any time of day. When alerted to a tornado, quickly get to a storm shelter or basement. If underground shelter isn't available, get to an interior hall away from windows.

Understanding Severe Weather Hazards:TORNADO - tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that can destroy buildings and cause significant injury or death. ACTION: Take shelter immediately in a sturdy structure.LARGE HAIL - hail can damage vehicles, crops, buildings, and cause injuries. ACTION: Move indoors away from windows.STRONG WIND - strong wind can knock over trees and damage buildings. ACTION: Move indoors away from windows.HEAVY RAIN - Heavy rain can cause flash flooding. ACTION: Avoid rising creeks and water-covered roads.LIGHTNING - Lightning strikes can cause significant injury or death. ACTION: Move indoors if you hear thunder

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