NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) - A tornado watch is in effect until 3 p.m. this afternoon for a large portion of Louisiana. This is our first threat for severe storms today. The second, more powerful round begins late tonight. Numerous severe storms are expected across the Deep South tonight, lasting though early Sunday morning. All modes of severe weather are possible. This includes hail, wind, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. The Storm Prediction Center has increased the severe storm threat level to a MODERATE RISK (4/5). Hail will have the potential to reach 1 inch in diameter or larger. Winds could reach 60+ mph, enough for structural damage or downed powerlines. TORNADO THREAT BREAKDOWN: What in the HATCHED is going on here? It isn't often that we see a elevated or enhanced risk for tornadoes with the hatched marks overplayed here in south Louisiana... What do these little black lines mean? The hatched marks indicate a significant threat for tornadoes forming. 'SIGNIFIGANT' indicates tornadoes of EF-2 strength or greater are likely to form within 25 miles of any given point. These are large, typically longer track tornadoes, capable of major damage to homes and property. As for the colors on the map above, here is what they mean... RED- 15% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point. YELLOW- 10% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point. BROWN- 5% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point. GREEN- 2% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point. **Be sure that you have a way of receiving warnings even if power is lost. 8:00 p.m. Potential for rotating storms stretching from Cut Off, New Orleans, Slidell, Bogalusa, and McComb with a secondary line of storms developing behind it. This more slanted line of storms from Morgan City to Baton Rouge will likely have multiple embedded severe threats associated with it. This could mean hail, tornadoes, or damaging winds. Discrete storms are the ones that will hold a high chance for rotating. We use the term discrete to describe storms that develop 'away from the pack'. This allows for them to not have to fight other storms for the available atmospheric energy. 10 p.m. All modes of severe weather possible for... Morgan City, Glenwood, Reserve, Covington, Bogalusa 10 p.m. - Midnight All modes of severe weather possible for Lafitte, New Orleans, Slidell