Following a relatively quiet start to peak tornado season in May, a stretch of daily severe thunderstorm risk is getting underway. For at least a week, large hail, damaging winds and strong tornadoes are all possible for large swaths of the central United States.

A series of severe thunderstorms packing high winds, hail and tornadoes will progress from the Great Lakes to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys through the end of the week, AccuWeather meteorologists warn.

Violent storms and long-lived tornadoes could hit the central and eastern U.S. through the weekend, bringing widespread damage, power outages, and dangerous travel conditions.