New Severe Storm Outbreak Looms for the Mississippi Valley
Henry discusses severe weather of this past weekend and new threats ahead for this week.
A new storm rolling onshore in the Northwest will move at a decent pace across the country and will spark a new outbreak of severe thunderstorms and perhaps tornadoes.
The severe weather outbreak may begin Wednesday night on the High Plains, spreading farther east across the central and southern Plains Thursday, before reaching the Mississippi Valley Friday.
For the second time in less than a week and only the second time so far this season, moisture (70-degree dew point air) from the Gulf of Mexico will be open full throttle on strong southerly winds.
The circulation around the storm will not only draw moisture northward from the Gulf but will also shove dry air from the Desert Southwest eastward and chilly air from Canada southward.
The three surface ingredients, combined with a strong jet stream overhead, could yield an outbreak that rivals that of unfortunate events in recent days.
The new threat area of thunderstorms covers thousands of square miles and will extend from the western and central Gulf of Mexico coast all the way to the Upper Midwest, including southern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
People in this area Friday, as well as folks on the Plains Wednesday night and Thursday, should keep abreast of the weather situation and have a plan of action in case the unthinkable occurs.
The storms may organize into multiple lines that can disrupt roadway travel and cause delays at airports from Houston, Dallas and New Orleans to Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit.
The details of the storms will unfold over the next few days. Keep checking in at AccuWeather.com for updates.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 113° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 30° | Bellemont, AZ |
| Precip | 9.70" | Miami, FL |
WeatherWhys®
A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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