A dangerous stretch of severe weather is expected to continue across a large part of the United States through the end of the week and into the weekend, with damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes possible from the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley and East Coast.
Meteorologist Max Schuster, host of the Max Velocity – Severe Weather Center YouTube channel, said Thursday will bring two broad areas of severe-weather concern, one across the Upper Midwest and another extending through parts of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, while additional rounds of storms are expected Friday and Saturday.
Schuster said the pattern is especially active because the severe-weather threat is unfolding alongside intense heat in parts of the country and an increasingly busy Pacific hurricane season.
Thursday Brings Two Large Severe-Weather Zones
For Thursday, Schuster said one slight-risk area stretches from Fargo through Minneapolis and into western Wisconsin, while another covers areas around Pittsburgh and extends east toward Delaware.
A broader marginal-risk zone connects those areas, creating a long corridor where scattered severe storms could develop.
Damaging winds are the main concern, particularly across the Midwest, where Schuster said some gusts could reach 75 to 80 mph.
Large to very large hail will also be possible around Minneapolis and Fargo, while the tornado threat extends across parts of North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Schuster said the tornado risk is not exceptionally high, but conditions could still support an isolated tornado if a discrete supercell develops.
That distinction matters because a lower overall tornado probability does not mean every storm will be weak. A single well-organized supercell can still create a serious local threat even on a day when tornadoes are not expected to be widespread.
Pennsylvania And Ohio Could See Another Damaging Line
Across the Northeast and Ohio Valley, Schuster expects Thursday’s storms to become more active later in the day.
He said one cluster of thunderstorms could develop across Michigan by late afternoon while another line forms over Pennsylvania, bringing a risk of significant damaging winds and perhaps an isolated tornado.
The area between State College and Pittsburgh is one zone he highlighted for the possibility of one or two tornadoes.
By roughly 8 to 9 p.m., another line could be moving into northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Schuster said that round may produce another widespread burst of damaging winds, with a couple of tornadoes also possible.
The storms are then expected to move toward Washington, D.C., overnight, although the severe threat should become more isolated by that point.
Schuster described Thursday as another active severe-weather day for the Northeast, even though the tornado threat may be lower than it was earlier in the week.
Midwest Storms Could Produce Hail And Isolated Tornadoes
Farther west, Schuster expects numerous thunderstorms across the Midwest during the mid-to-late afternoon and evening.
Damaging winds will again be the primary hazard, with isolated large hail and a smaller tornado threat.
One forecast model showed a broad area where tornadoes could become possible, although Schuster cautioned that morning thunderstorms could disrupt the atmosphere and reduce the chance of stronger storms later.
He said some guidance shows one or two supercells developing near Milwaukee, followed by additional storms during the evening and overnight.
Other models push the most organized severe weather farther north and west, which adds uncertainty to the exact placement of the strongest storms.
Schuster said the Midwest may ultimately see fewer storms than the Northeast, but any isolated storm that becomes well organized could have a somewhat better chance of producing a tornado.
That kind of setup can be tricky because a quieter radar does not necessarily mean the risk has disappeared; fewer storms can sometimes leave individual cells with more room to strengthen.
Severe Weather Shifts Toward The East Coast Friday
By Friday, Schuster expects the overall severe-weather threat to become less widespread, but the focus will shift toward the East Coast.
Areas from Minnesota toward North Carolina could still see scattered severe storms, although the most notable threat will likely be farther east.
Schuster said storms should begin developing around 3 to 4 p.m. near Raleigh, Richmond and Virginia Beach and could continue through late evening.
Damaging winds and large hail will be the main concerns.
The tornado risk is expected to remain low, although Schuster said an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out around Raleigh, Greenville or Fayetteville.
For people in those areas, Friday looks less like a major tornado outbreak and more like another day where scattered storms could become locally severe.
That may sound less dramatic, but repeated rounds of severe weather across several consecutive days can still create problems, especially where trees or power infrastructure have already been weakened by earlier storms.
Saturday Could Bring Another Round To The Carolinas
Schuster said Saturday could bring a similar setup across the Southeast, with damaging winds and large hail once again possible.
The Storm Prediction Center has already highlighted an area including Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Columbia and Greenville for severe-weather potential.
One forecast model also shows more thunderstorm activity across the Ohio Valley, including near Indianapolis and Columbus, although Schuster said he is not yet confident that widespread storms will develop that far north.
He currently expects the more organized activity to remain farther south.
The exact placement will depend on how the atmosphere evolves over the next couple of days, but Schuster’s broader message is that the severe-weather pattern is not ending quickly.
Instead, the threat is expected to move gradually from one region to another through the weekend.
Pacific Hurricanes Add Another Concern
While severe thunderstorms remain the main concern across the continental United States, Schuster said the Pacific Ocean has become unusually active.
Tropical Storm Marie, south of Baja California, now appears less likely to turn toward California because most forecast models have shifted it westward over open water.
Hurricane Karina is much stronger.
Schuster described Karina as a Category 4 hurricane that came very close to Category 5 intensity, with a sharply defined eyewall and favorable conditions around it.
He said warm ocean temperatures and relatively low wind shear have helped fuel the active Pacific pattern.
The system Schuster is watching most closely, however, is Hurricane Lol, which he said was near Category 5 strength and expected to remain south of Hawaii before eventually turning north.
Some forecast models bring the hurricane closer to Hawaii late in the weekend or next week, while others keep it safely over open water.
Schuster stressed that the future track remains uncertain.
Still, he said the western Hawaiian Islands may need to be watched if the storm makes a sharper northward turn.
A Busy Start To September
The immediate concern for the mainland United States is the continued parade of severe thunderstorms from Thursday through Saturday, with damaging winds appearing to be the most widespread hazard.
Tornadoes are expected to be more isolated, but Schuster repeatedly emphasized that they remain possible, particularly where discrete supercells can form before storms merge into larger lines.
The next few days will therefore require attention across several different regions rather than one single outbreak zone.
For Thursday, that means parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Pennsylvania; by Friday and Saturday, the focus gradually shifts toward the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Schuster’s forecast suggests September is beginning with a highly active weather pattern, combining severe thunderstorms, persistent heat and major hurricanes over the Pacific.
The main practical takeaway is that even where the tornado risk remains relatively low, powerful straight-line winds and large hail could still cause widespread damage, and the threat will continue moving from region to region through the weekend.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
