3 Day Tornado And Viscious T-storms Ready To Hit Central US (video and pictures)

America’s tornado drought looks like it may end as early as this weekend, as a potent weather system moves into the Plains states and slowly lumbers toward the Mississippi River Valley. The storm system is likely to set off a multi-day severe weather outbreak, with thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes forming on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

If it occurs, the potential tornado outbreak would boost 2014’s tornado tally, which is currently in record low territory, and could end the long stretch without a tornado-related fatality as well.

Bill Bunting, chief of operations at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., told Mashable that the ingredients necessary for a large-scale severe weather outbreak are likely to start appearing on Saturday in the High Plains states. These ingredients include a strong low-pressure area in the upper atmosphere, which will trigger the development of a surface low in the Plains, as well as abundant low-level moisture and winds that vary in speed and direction with height.

Outlook for severe weather three days ahead (red) and four days (purple).

More specifically, the counter-clockwise circulation around the surface low will draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward, and strong winds at altitudes of about 10,000 to 20,000 feet above ground level will provide the wind shear needed for tornadoes to form. (Wind shear refers to winds that change speed or direction with height, or both.)

“This is a very strong upper system with very strong wind shear,” Bunting said. -morehere