News Channel 5 Weather as the March 15 Storm 5 Alert begins: Severe storms tonight, then dangerously cold air
news channel 5 weather coverage focuses on a Storm 5 Alert in effect from 7 PM to 2 AM ET as strong to severe storms move into the region tonight, followed by a rapid shift to dangerously cold temperatures after the threat ends.
What happens when the Storm 5 Alert window runs 7 PM–2 AM ET?
The forecast calls for strong to severe storms tonight, with the Storm 5 Alert spanning 7 PM through 2 AM ET. A Tornado Watch is now in place for part of the region, with the watch expected to expand further east in the next few hours.
The cold front remains on track to arrive in western counties after sunset. Impacts are expected around 10 PM ET in Nashville, followed by the Plateau after midnight. The setup continues trending toward a significant wind event, with winds within storms capable of reaching 70 mph gusts. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out overnight.
What if the wind threat becomes the defining impact tonight?
Within the storm line, wind is highlighted as a major concern. Gusts inside storms could reach 70 mph, described as potentially very impactful. With a Tornado Watch already in place for part of the region and the possibility of further eastward expansion, the overnight period remains a focused window for monitoring changing conditions as the front approaches and moves through.
Timing remains central to the risk: western counties after sunset, Nashville near 10 PM ET, and the Plateau after midnight. The expectation of a significant wind event means the most notable impacts may coincide with the strongest storms during the Storm 5 Alert period.
What happens after 2 AM ET when storms end but the cold arrives?
After the severe threat ends around 2 AM ET, the forecast warns the region will not be fully “out of the woods. ” The cold front is expected to usher in dangerous temperatures. Wind chills are projected to fall into the teens and low 20s early Monday morning.
Behind the front, the outlook turns to very cold conditions with scattered flurries possible. The bitter cold temperatures are expected to continue through Tuesday, with relief arriving by midweek.
For tonight and into tomorrow, the forecast details include: strong to severe storms tonight with a low of 34 and southerly winds of 20–25 mph, followed by scattered flurries and very cold conditions tomorrow with a high near 40 and westerly winds of 15 mph gusting to 30 mph.
news channel 5 weather remains centered on two back-to-back hazards: the overnight severe-storm window during the Storm 5 Alert, then dangerously cold wind chills moving in behind the cold front into Monday and persisting through Tuesday.
