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.

Dangerous weather conditions will peak Saturday, with one of the most prolific tornado-producing setups in years expected to develop over the Deep South — with disastrous results likely.

AccuWeather's Jon Porter warns of a triple threat facing the central U.S., which include fire danger in the South, blizzards in the North and damaging winds and tornadoes in the heart of the nation.