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Millions Brace for Severe Storms Pounding Southeast US
18 Oct
Summary
- Powerful storms bring threat of tornadoes, hail, and flooding
- Over 13 million people under severe weather alert across 10 states
- College football games delayed due to lightning

On October 19th, 2025, millions of Americans in the southeastern United States are preparing for a weekend of intense and potentially dangerous weather. A powerful storm system has been moving across the country, bringing a surge of warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico that has created the perfect conditions for severe storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center has placed more than 13 million people across 10 states under a level two out of five severe weather threat. This means that the region, including much of Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri, could be hit with large hail, thunderstorms, and flash flooding.
The brewing storm is characterized by atmospheric instability and chaotic winds, which are expected to cause significant damage and disruption throughout the weekend. In fact, some college football games in Texas and Indiana have already been delayed due to lightning strikes.
As the cold front continues to push eastward, the threat of severe weather will linger, with the potential for wind speeds reaching up to 70 mph in parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas on Sunday. Meteorologists warn that this is a cross-country storm system that has been making its way through the United States, and that "everyone is going to get a little taste of it one way or another."