A corridor of severe storms today will precede an outbreak of dangerous storms on Thursday that will produce widespread tornadoes across the Plains.

The Severe Weather Center reports the thunderstorms from the mid-Atlantic to the central Plains Through tonight, the storms will produce damaging winds, hail and flooding downpours. There is the potential for tornadoes, especially over the central Plains.

Tornado and storm watches and warnings are in effect from the Missouri Valley and to the mid-Atlantic states.

The thunderstorms are being fueled by the clash of two distinctly different air masses. Blazing heat and humidity is gripping the southern tier of the nation, while cooler air is found to the north.

The Midwest Regional News story warns that a more widespread outbreak of tornadoes will take shape over the country's midsection on Thursday. A potent storm and the associated jet stream emerging from the Rockies will give rise to the dangerous severe weather.

The threat for Thursday's severe weather lies from the central Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley. Wichita, Omaha and Des Moines are amongst the cities in the forecast path of the storms.

Residents in the threat zone on Thursday are urged to use today to review tornado safety procedures. Thursday's severe weather could significantly threaten lives and property with large and long-tracking tornadoes possible.

A scenario similar to today sparked an outbreak of severe weather across the Ohio Valley and central Plains on Tuesday. Over a dozen tornadoes were sighted. One twister heavily damaged and destroyed several homes around Moscow, Ind.

A man suffered a broken foot when strong thunderstorm winds damaged homes and trees near Bedford, Ind. The Associated Press reported lightning struck a petroleum storage tank in downtown Kansas City, Kan., igniting a massive fire.

The South Regional News story states the heat and humidity providing fuel for the severe weather will encompass more of the South today. Several degrees will be added to Tuesday's high temperatures across North Carolina, Virginia and the Ohio Valley.

The heat will continue to build over the East through the weekend. Temperatures and humidity will rise on Thursday across the lower Great Lakes. The arrival of the heat will get delayed over the Northeast, thanks to a cold front currently dropping down from eastern Canada.

The East Regional News story states the cooler air following the front will eventually give way to the heat over the northern mid-Atlantic on Friday and New England this weekend. Temperatures will soar into the lower 90s as far north as southern New England on Saturday.

The heat bubble is already gripping the southern Plains and Desert Southwest, according to the Southwest Regional News story. These two regions will also have to endure winds gusting past 45 mph at times today. The high winds have prompted the issuance of wind advisories.

The strongest wind gusts will be reserved for the afternoon and evening hours across the Desert Southwest. Motorists should be prepared for blowing dust to dangerously lower visibility in a short period of time. Red flag warnings are in effect to warn residents of the elevated fire danger that also exists.

North of the strong winds, the storm will spread showers and thunderstorms across the Rockies today. The West Regional News story states that the powerful jet stream accompanying the storm could spark heavier thunderstorms across eastern Nevada and Utah.

Enough cold air and moisture will be in place tonight and Thursday that snow will fall in the higher elevations of the central Rockies. Snow levels will plummet to 6,000 feet tonight in eastern Nevada and Utah.

High Temperatures For Selected Cities:
City	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.	Sat.		City	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.	Sat.
Los Angeles	71	76	80	77		Phoenix	100	94	102	103
Dallas	96	94	92	91		Denver	70	57	78	88
Omaha	83	84	82	84		Minneapolis	68	72	72	78
Chicago	78	88	87	80		Detroit	74	88	90	82
Cincinnati	87	92	92	85		Nashville	92	92	92	90
Raleigh	96	96	96	96		Atlanta	94	96	89	93
Washington, D.C.	86	86	91	97		Philadelphia	80	77	88	90
New York City	73	75	84	90		Boston	66	65	74	76