With the entrance of Spring, often also comes the beginning of severe weather season across the United States. The Spring months often feature some of the most prolific severe weather events across the Central and Eastern United States. Although they usually don't affect our local area, the impacts are widespread and the damage costly. The first "significant" outbreak of the spring season is expected this coming Saturday. A significant storm system moving through the Central US will be the main player in forcing the development of severe thunderstorms -- within an unstable airmass. The positioning of a warm front and a dryline will become the focal points for the development of supercells with the potential for strong/long-tracked tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a rare "High Risk" on the Day 2 Outlook for Saturday -- with two separate areas within the High Risk zone (the aforementioned warm front and dry line development areas). Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska as well as Wichita, Kansas are some major cities within this High Risk area. Pictured right: Storm Prediction Center's Day 2 Convective Outlook showing the High Risk area. The categorical risk areas, pictured on the left side of the image, are triggered using probabilities for severe thunderstorms within a certain distance of any point, pictured right.

For more on the potential severe weather outbreak, we encourage you to visit the Storm Prediction Center's main page. There, you can access the latest outlooks for the remainder of today, Saturday (Day 2), Sunday (Day 3) and beyond (through Day 8). The Storm Prediction Center also issues short-term  watches (Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado watches) which are available via their main page. If you're wondering how the SPC works-- visit the SPC FAQ page. If you live in the Moderate or High risk area for Saturday, we suggest you prepare adequately -- do so ahead of time. Check out the National Weather Service's Severe Weather Preparedness page.

Article written by JH. Published April 13th, 2012 at 2:15pm. For up to the minute details on forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.