Weather Service Issues Highest-Level Alert for Tornadoes Across Mid-South

A rare 5/5 severe weather warning is in effect April 2 for parts of the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, with life-threatening tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a rare 5/5 alert for the possibility of damaging tornadoes for the area in pink, with more moderate risks in orange and yellow, on April 2, 2025. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued its highest-level alert forecasting a dangerous tornado outbreak to unfold Wednesday and into Wednesday night, across portions of the Mid-South and lower Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.

The rare “high risk” alert, designated as level 5 out of 5, includes parts of eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, northwest Mississippi, and southern Indiana.