Severe weather season usually begins to ramp up in March and lasts through the start of summer. The dramatic increase in sun angle during the month can spark wide variations in our large-scale weather patterns as pockets of cold, dry air descend south from Canada while warm, moist air surges north from the Gulf.

There is the potential for severe weather across the southeastern parts of the United States over the next several days, including Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. On Sunday, that severe weather threat extends into north and central Florida.

A powerful storm system is set to bring multiple rounds of dangerous severe thunderstorms, with numerous strong tornadoes possible, from the Midwest to the Southeast beginning Friday. Why it matters: "Today may end up as one of the more prolific severe weather outbreaks in recent memory" in the region,