Spring is making one heck of an entrance.

After a week of record high temperatures, a major winter storm affecting the Plains and Midwest with impacts felt far from the storm's center is forecast to arrive overnight Sunday, March 15 and especially on Monday for parts of the Mid-Atlantic states and southeast, including the Petersburg and Tri-Cities region.

Widespread severe thunderstorms bringing flooding downpours are forecast Monday, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Tornadoes, potentially strong, and particularly damaging winds are most likely from South Carolina into Maryland during the afternoon, the NOAA said Sunday.

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"While damaging straight-line winds are the most likely severe weather hazard, a few tornadoes, including the possibility of an especially intense tornado, cannot be ruled out, especially from near the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metro areas through Virginia and into North Carolina,” said Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist.

For the eastern and central parts of Virginia including Washington, DC and Richmond, the NOAA upgraded the area to a moderate risk level four with a 15% chance of tornadoes, some possibly strong, as the storm spreads eastward from the Appalachians to the East Coast during Monday afternoon.

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued by the NWS in Wakefield.

A few storms are possible after midnight before the strong cold front crosses the region late Monday, bringing a significant risk for severe thunderstorms, including the potential for damaging winds and tornadoes.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high near 67.

Sunday night: Showers and thunderstorms before 4 a.m., then a chance of showers between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. Low around 58. Wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 7 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 74. Gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday night: Showers likely before 2 a.m. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 30. Gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Monique Calello is a reporter at The News Leader/USA Today Network. Connect with her at mcalello@newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Petersburg weather forecast includes severe storm, tornadoes, cold