Tornado Watch Map, Latest Forecast for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas

The New Year has kicked off with warnings that severe weather could strike some of the same parts of the U.S. that had been hit by tornados only two weeks ago.

A cold front pushing into spring-like warmth all week over the southern states, will fuel strong to severe thunderstorms, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has said.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) cautioned that thunderstorms are expected from Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to the Western Appalachians on Saturday.

It added that "all severe-weather hazards are possible... including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes."

It also said that "strong tornadoes are possible Saturday and Saturday night, with an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms from Little Rock, Arkansas up to Lexington, Kentucky.

Here are the latest weather forecasts for Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas.

Tennessee

The SPC said that there was an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms from parts of the lower Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee valley.

The NWS tweeted later Saturday morning that, "the system of strong to severe storms will begin slowly pushing to the east. All modes of severe weather will be possible."

There was a tornado watch for north of the I-40 corridor that was valid until 7 a.m. CST today. Tornado watches were issued for Lauderdale and Dyer Counties until 7a.m. CST Saturday.

A tornado watch encourages people to be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued. A tornado warning on the other hand calls for people to take action because a tornado has been sighted and there is imminent danger to life and property.

A severe weather threat has been issued for the following counties:

Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fentress, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lake, Lauderdale, Macon, Madison, Montgomery, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Weakley, and Wilson.

Kentucky

As the clean-up continues from tornadoes that ripped through the western part of the state in December, flooding will also be a major concern in Kentucky this weekend.

Rain is expected to move through the area this morning into the afternoon, continuing the flooding threat, with strong to severe storms possible this afternoon with a flood watch in place until 10 p.m. local news outlet Wave reported.

A severe weather warning was issued for the following counties:

Adair, Allen, Barren, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Green, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Metcalfe, Monroe, Owsley, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Warren, Wayne, and Whitley.

Missouri

A mix of sleet, snow, and a freezing drizzle is expected to begin early Saturday morning, with bitterly cold temperatures forecast for the weekend, the NWS said.

A severe weather warning was issued for the following counties: Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot.

Arkansas

A tornado watch had been issued for Cross County and Poinsett County until 7 a.mm but severe weather is expected to continue throughout the weekend although the risk of tornadoes is very low.

Areas of heavy rain are forecast from central into northeast Arkansas on Saturday posing the risk of flash flooding, the NWS said.

"Quarter to three quarter inch amounts are in the forecast elsewhere, with locally over an inch," it said on Saturday morning.

A severe weather warning was issued for the following counties: Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett.