The latest NOAA/NWS weather watch, warning, and advisory areas reveal a large area of high wind across the Great Plains extending to the Ohio and Tennessee Valley. Risk of tornadoes extends from Missouri/Illinois to Mississippi for later today and tonight.

Rainfall amount from former Category-4 Major Hurricane Alfred was widespread >25 inches from far southeast Queensland to coastal northeast New South Wales last week with high spots near 44 inches. The latest forecast indicates a favorable Madden Julian oscillation to cause more widespread rains the second half of March!

An unusually strong wind event begins Friday across the southwest Great Plains and Texas shifting to Kansas Friday night. Hurricane force wind is widespread with this event. The high wind event shifts to Nebraska and the Northern Ohio Valley next Saturday. Another high wind event with similar intensity in the same location is forecast early next week.

Featured next Friday is an unusually low pressure of 970 MB centered on Nebraska. The low pressure causes a large area of extreme wind including sustained wind of 30-50 mph across much of the Great Plains with wind gust potential easily exceeding hurricane force.