CNN
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A widespread storm system is moving across the country, bringing the threat of severe storms, flooding and snow to parts of the east-central United States from Texas to Virginia.
The chance of severe weather increases further on Monday, with more than 50 million people in states including Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri under threat of severe storms.
Here's how the threat will unfold in the coming days.
Monday: Increased risk of damage from gusty winds and tornadoes.
The primary area of concern Monday stretches from northeast Texas to western Indiana, where the Storm Prediction Center has set an increased risk of severe storms, or level 3/5.
Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Springfield, and St. Louis are among the cities in the enhanced danger zone, where the primary threats are tornadoes, large to very large hail (greater than 2 inches in diameter), and damaging wind gusts. .
“The severe threat will peak in the afternoon and evening over the southern Plains, with the greatest threat near the Ohio Valley occurring in the evening and overnight,” the prediction center warns.
A slight risk of severe storms, Level 2/5, extends from central Texas to western West Virginia, including the cities of San Antonio, Indianapolis, Austin, Kansas City, and Cincinnati.
The marginal risk of severe storms, or Level 1/5, extends from Texas to eastern Virginia, including Amarillo, Shreveport, Richmond and Columbus, Ohio. The main threats are large hail and damaging wind gusts, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Studies have shown that nighttime tornadoes are more than twice as deadly as daytime tornadoes. Tornadoes are harder to spot in the dark and more deadly because people are asleep.
Flood watches are in effect from Monday morning until late Tuesday for more than 8 million residents from eastern Indiana to western Maryland. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible, with isolated rainfall totals reaching 5 inches.
Parts of the Northern Plains could see more snow on Monday, and the upper Midwest could see a wintry mix on Monday.
The area at increased risk for severe storms extends from northern Alabama to southern Ohio, including Nashville, Louisville, and Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky.
The main threats are large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes in areas with a slight risk of severe storms stretching from central Mississippi to central Ohio, including Cincinnati, Birmingham, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Same as danger.
Cities at threat level 1/5 on Tuesday include Memphis, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
At the northern end of the storm, temperatures will be low enough to allow some winter to mix in and bring some April snow. The winter weather threat could move into the Great Lakes and interior Northeast as early as Tuesday, moving into the Great Lakes and interior Northeast, with a wintry mix across parts of the Northern Plains and upper Midwest on Monday, and could continue into Thursday.
Cities including Chicago have also seen some flaking; The amount of snowfall is expected to be low. The heaviest snowfall is expected in parts of northern Michigan and higher elevations in the interior Northeast, including the Green Mountains, White Mountains and Adirondack Mountains.
Only rainfall is currently expected in major cities in the northeast.