Shelf cloud at sunrise over Bloomington, Ill. Courtesy of AccuFan Ken Griffin. Taken Sept. 5, 2012.
The first in a string of stormy days for the eastern half of the nation is expected to begin later this afternoon across the central Plains. A potent disturbance digging into the nation's heartland will trigger spotty, strong thunderstorms toward evening.
Although the coverage area of these storms will be spotty, any thunderstorm can bring damaging winds and large hail. As with any thunderstorm, drenching, blinding rainfall is possible as well as lightning. If traveling, never drive through a flooded roadways and slow down when you encounter torrential rainfall.
Residents from Lubbock, Texas, to Wichita, Kan., should keep an eye to the sky this afternoon for potentially nasty weather. Later tonight, the severe threat shifts north and east into places such as Springfield and Kansas City, Mo.
The damaging winds from these storms can topple trees and power lines while hail can damage cars and housing.
By tomorrow, drier and cooler weather is expected to rush into the region on brisk northerly winds. This will make for a refreshingly cool week's end.
Farther east, however, the potent disturbance and associated cold front will spark stormy, wet conditions in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys by Friday and Saturday.
On the northern side of this storm, a swath of rain will promote wet conditions for northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan tonight.
This moisture-laden, powerful storm system is just a precursor of fall storms to come this season. As we move into autumn, the jet stream dips farther south, allowing strong disturbances to sweep through the nation.
Some of the warmest weather of the year will continue across Alaska over the next few days, challenging more records.
Join us on Thursday for AccuWeather LIVE, we will discuss the debate of climate change and hurricane frequency and the top five things you need to know about summer weather.
Warmth is forecast to build over much of the eastern half of the nation by July, with Alaska of all places helping out.
A brief synopsis of the top five worst weather events of last summer.
The storms could affect cities from St. Louis to Evansville, Ind., Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio to Huntington, W.Va.
A tornado touched down at Denver International Airport as a severe weather system moved through the area.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Amwell, NJ (1742)
A fatal hailstorm and severe thunderstorm
containing hail 4" in diameter killed one
child and did considerable damage to crops.
Connecticut (1794)
A violent tornado started west of the Hudson River,
then travelled on to Poughkeepsie, Waterbury,
North Haven, Milford, and Branford line into Long
Island Sound. Extensive damage; funnel looked
like an "aurora borealis." At New Milford, 28
buildings were destroyed or damaged. A barn door
was carried 9 miles from its original site.
Philadelphia, PA (1990)
Hail up to the size of marbles fell with wind
gusts to 50 mph in the northeast part of the
city.
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