Damaging Thunderstorms Hitting Midwestern Cities
Latest on the weather across the Midwest
A storm system pushing across the Midwest was already sparking severe thunderstorms near Kansas City, St. Louis and in other parts of Missouri early Friday afternoon. Downed trees and power lines have been reported.
More thunderstorms like these will ignite through tonight, evolving into a line that extends from Missouri and eastern Kansas to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Portions of flood-ravaged Iowa are included in this zone.
In addition to damaging winds and torrential downpours, some of the stronger thunderstorms could also produce nickel- to quarter-sized hail and perhaps even a tornado through the early part of tonight.
Cities at risk for these dangerous thunderstorms include Marquette, Mich., Madison, Wis., Rochester, Minn., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., and Topeka, Kan.
If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for your local area, seek shelter immediately. The lowest, most interior room of a sturdy home or building is the safest place to be during a severe thunderstorm or tornado.
As the thunderstorms head farther east overnight, the main threat will transition to being heavy rain and flash flooding. Several inches of rain could be unleashed in a matter of hours.
Areas from northern Missouri into eastern Iowa, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin will likely be in the heart of these thunderstorms overnight. The heavy rain threat will continue as they head farther east across the Lower Great Lakes Saturday.
More severe thunderstorms could fire up Saturday afternoon and evening farther south across the Ohio Valley.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 86° | Borrego Springs, CA |
| Low | -18° | Flag Island, MN |
| Precip | 1.60" | West Palm Beach, FL |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
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