Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and 80 mph Winds Emerge for Easter Weekend

Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, April 5, and even though the holiday brings to mind images of people in short-sleeved dresses and light clothing, this year, millions of Americans are dealing with severe weather.

So, the Easter egg hunts may need to go indoors for Americans in the path of severe thunderstorms and tornados. While much of the country has experienced warmer-than-average temperatures for early April, that's turning a corner, and residents in Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley and Northeast may be in for hazardous weather. A new storm is working its way through the country, and as it heads east, it's bringing high winds and the potential for cyclones. Specifically, residents in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois are being told to stay aware.

Brace for Severe Tornados, Thunderstorms and 80 mph Winds in Areas of Country on Easter Sunday

Tornados and thunderstorms worked their way through the Midwest on Saturday, April 4, and that trend is continuing into Easter Sunday. According to the weather experts at AccuWeather, a cold front has been heading eastward all weekend, bringing storms from Texas to southwestern New York, with "risks of hail, flooding downpours and damaging winds."

In a statement provided to Men's Journal, their meteorologists explain that this storm, with the potential for damaging winds and tornado activity, up to 80 mph winds, will work eastward on Easter Sunday. "Showers and thunderstorms are expected to reach the Interstate 95 corridor by Easter Sunday, introducing the potential for weather-related disruptions across key urban areas," they state. "Outdoor activities may be affected by lightning, gusty winds and pockets of heavy rainfall that could lead to delays or temporary interruptions."

Cold Weather Returns for the Midwest, Appalachians and East Coast for the Easter Holiday

Easter is a spring holiday that honors the resurrection, and it often comes with warmer weather, but not this year. The weather experts at AccuWeather say to expect a cold front shifting east form the Midwest to the Appalachians and, finally, East Coast on Easter weekend, "replacing unseasonable warmth with a noticeable drop in temperatures," which may lead to having to bring outdoor activities indoors. The Weather Channel also notes the colder weather, stating, "Some snow showers may linger in parts of the western Great Lake snowbelts from northeast Minnesota into northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan."

So, put a coat over that spring dress or slacks, because winter is lingering well after the first day of spring. However, April is on track to wrap up on the warmer side. Meteorologists say that during the second week of April, warmer air is projected to move back into the Midwest, Plains and Northeast, finally bringing that mild spring-like air back to the region.