Thunderstorms Threatening Damage from Texas to Illinois
Ominous skies as thunderstorms roll through Ohio State University's West Campus on Friday, June 11, 2010. (Photo courtesy of AccuWeather.com Facebook Fan Ashley-Michael McCarthy)
Severe thunderstorms will remain a threat to areas from western Texas into Nebraska and Illinois through at least the early part of tonight. Damaging winds, hail and heavy rain will be the main threats with thunderstorms developing in these areas.
A few thunderstorms rumbling through areas farther east from the central Appalachians into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast could also become strong or heavy through early tonight. It's the same storm system that produced the deadly flooding in Arkansas Thursday night that is sparking these thunderstorms.
Severe Threat in the Midwest
Severe thunderstorms were already under way early Saturday afternoon in northern and western Illinois with downed trees and power lines reported across several counties.
The cold front sparking the thunderstorms will advance farther south and east across the Midwest tonight, threatening more areas from Missouri into western parts of Kentucky and Indiana with severe weather. Cities such as Chicago and St. Louis are included in the risk area.
Damaging winds and heavy rain will remain the biggest threats, though a few of the strongest thunderstorms could also produce hail. The threat for flash flooding will be greatest in low-lying areas along streams and small rivers.
People in the path of these thunderstorms are urged to stay alert to their local weather conditions and seek shelter immediately if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.
People who must travel should be prepared for slow traffic and take it slow. If you come upon a roadway covered with water, turn around and find an alternate route.
Severe Threat on the Plains
A new round of severe thunderstorms erupting on the southern Plains will impact areas from western Texas into Oklahoma, Kansas and southern Nebraska through tonight.
As has been the case the last few nights, these thunderstorms will organize into a large cluster that persists well into the overnight hours. Early on, a few of the thunderstorms could spawn tornadoes. Otherwise, the main threats will be damaging winds and large hail perhaps larger than the size of golf balls.
Flash flooding could also become a problem for some communities.
Isolated Threat in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic
Thunderstorms that have been affecting areas from southern Indiana and eastern Kentucky into the Virginias and Pennsylvania Saturday will persist through tonight.
A few of these thunderstorms already produced wind damage from northwestern North Carolina into Virginia during the day Saturday. Damaging winds will remain a threat through early tonight as these thunderstorms continue moving eastward across Virginia and southern Maryland.
These thunderstorms should tend to weaken overnight but could still produce locally heavy rain. The storm system responsible for producing the thunderstorms will move offshore Sunday morning. This storm system is the same one that caused the deadly flash flooding in Arkansas Thursday night.
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