Originally published on March 15, 2021 8:05 am A wide area of severe thunderstorms, including the risk of strong tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds, are becoming increasingly probable over the Deep South Wednesday into Thursday. A few of these severe storms may affect the Florida Panhandle. A strong low pressure area over central California Monday morning is expected to move eastward toward the lower and middle Mississippi River Valley by Wednesday. Warm, humid, and unstable air -- the fuel needed for thunderstorms -- will be in place over large portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and neighboring states. Strong wind shear, which is an increase in wind speed or direction as one goes up in the atmosphere, is forecast to be in about the same location as the unstable air. The end result is an increasing risk for dangerous severe storms as soon as Wednesday afternoon, lasting into Thursday.