On April 19, forecasters said severe thunderstorms were a threat to parts of the middle and lower Mississippi Valley and the Southern Plains, and the risk could grow into Easter Sunday on April 20. The thunderstorms there could produce severe wind, hail and a few tornadoes, the weather service said.

A stretch of the United States from San Antonio to Pittsburgh is facing the threat of heavy rain and severe storms this weekend as a sprawling system continues to linger, bringing with it the risks of flooding,

The days of the Holy Week have not changed in recent tradition: Easter always falls on a Sunday, and the standard definition is that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox.

Retailers like Costco and Target will be closed, but many grocery stores will remain open. Banks, the stock market and post offices are always closed on Sundays