Tornados, damaging winds expected across Mid-South Tuesday

The National Weather Service in Memphis is tracking severe weather thatcouldaffect Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana Tuesday afternoon.

Wind gusts are projected to reach up to 40 miles per hour and tornados are also possible. Over the weekend, NWS Memphis assessed the risk as enhanced, but has since upgraded that risk to moderate for a small portion of the Mid-South, including parts of Memphis.

"As updated high-resolution data comes in, it's becoming more evident that the convection ahead of the front tomorrow will most likely be in the form of organized supercells," NWS Memphis said on Twitter. "Long-track tornadoes will be possible, and some could be significant."

Flash flooding is also a possibility, with strong or severe thunderstorms also a possibility late Tuesday evening. The worst of the weather is expected to take place from the late afternoon until around midnight.

Rain is expected to start in the morning, progressively turning into thunderstorms throughout the day, and presenting a possibility for hail.

Also of concern to NWS Memphis are nighttime tornados and with sunset being before 5 p.m., NWS Memphis said nighttime tornados are not only possible, but are also "particularly dangerous."

Lucas Finton is a news reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.