Ferocious storms to erupt across the central United States
By
Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Aug 8, 2021 7:41 PM EDT
Millions of people will be facing the risk of severe thunderstorms in the Plains and Midwest into early week, including residents in major metro areas such as Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
This severe weather potential comes after thunderstorms tore through parts of the region on Friday and Friday night, bringing gusty winds to South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Indiana. These storms included gusts past 70 mph near Reliance and Stephan, South Dakota, as well as reports of trees and tree limbs down near Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and Leesburg, Indiana.
The severe weather continued on Saturday and Saturday night. Thunderstorms brought intense flash flooding to the metro of Omaha, Nebraska, from Saturday night into early Sunday morning. High waters reached car headlights, moving extremely swiftly along the roads. Omaha reported 2.02 inches of rain on Saturday, the most it has received all month. The city has now received 145% of its average rain amount since July 1.
The Blue River Fire Department in Wisconsin also reported a tornado in Grant County on Saturday. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in relation to the tornado, according to the Grant County Emergency Management. It reportedly destroyed several homes and numerous agricultural buildings, downing power lines and spreading debris across roads as well.
On Sunday, the severe weather continued in the evening. Power lines and trees were blown down by strong winds in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
There can be three to four rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms that move across the northern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley through Tuesday, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Similar to the past few days, some of these thunderstorms could be strong to severe with damaging winds and flooding downpours.
"As a low pressure system transitions eastward, it will cause heavier storms to develop in the eastern Great Lakes from southern Wisconsin into northern Illinois and extending into Missouri and eastern Kansas," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde.
Storms will erupt over several locations later Sunday, including Green Bay, Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and the western suburbs of Chicago. The risks will include hail, high wind gusts, flooding downpours and isolated tornadoes, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph. Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and on guard for changing conditions.
There can be pockets of flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Drivers will need to be aware of ponding on roadways, hydroplaning and drastic changes in visibility. Experts urge motorists to never attempt to drive across a flooded roadway. The water may be much deeper than it appears, and it only takes a small amount of water to sweep a vehicle away.
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High water could also block escape routes for those in rural and suburban areas, so it is even more vital to plan ahead of the severe weather. Residents should ensure flashlights are in working order and generators are ready.
AccuWeather meteorologists do not expect the severe weather and flooding threats to let up anytime soon.
"On Monday, a couple pieces of energy will be moving through the north-central U.S. which will help to set off more feisty thunderstorms. Instead of one consolidated area of severe weather, there may be a few pockets where thunderstorms become more severe than others," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
Tuesday will feature yet another threat for severe weather from portions of southern Ontario through Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and into Iowa.
Looking ahead, forecasters are watching the possibility of cooler, calmer weather for the region.
"We are watching for the potential for a couple of cool shots to come into the northern Plains and the Midwest during the second half of the week," said Roys. The first cool shot will come around Wednesday or Thursday and will only last a couple of days, bringing temperatures near or slightly below average.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Ferocious storms to erupt across the central United States
By Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Aug 8, 2021 7:41 PM EDT
Millions of people will be facing the risk of severe thunderstorms in the Plains and Midwest into early week, including residents in major metro areas such as Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
This severe weather potential comes after thunderstorms tore through parts of the region on Friday and Friday night, bringing gusty winds to South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Indiana. These storms included gusts past 70 mph near Reliance and Stephan, South Dakota, as well as reports of trees and tree limbs down near Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and Leesburg, Indiana.
The severe weather continued on Saturday and Saturday night. Thunderstorms brought intense flash flooding to the metro of Omaha, Nebraska, from Saturday night into early Sunday morning. High waters reached car headlights, moving extremely swiftly along the roads. Omaha reported 2.02 inches of rain on Saturday, the most it has received all month. The city has now received 145% of its average rain amount since July 1.
The Blue River Fire Department in Wisconsin also reported a tornado in Grant County on Saturday. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in relation to the tornado, according to the Grant County Emergency Management. It reportedly destroyed several homes and numerous agricultural buildings, downing power lines and spreading debris across roads as well.
On Sunday, the severe weather continued in the evening. Power lines and trees were blown down by strong winds in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
There can be three to four rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms that move across the northern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley through Tuesday, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Similar to the past few days, some of these thunderstorms could be strong to severe with damaging winds and flooding downpours.
"As a low pressure system transitions eastward, it will cause heavier storms to develop in the eastern Great Lakes from southern Wisconsin into northern Illinois and extending into Missouri and eastern Kansas," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde.
Storms will erupt over several locations later Sunday, including Green Bay, Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and the western suburbs of Chicago. The risks will include hail, high wind gusts, flooding downpours and isolated tornadoes, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph. Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and on guard for changing conditions.
There can be pockets of flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Drivers will need to be aware of ponding on roadways, hydroplaning and drastic changes in visibility. Experts urge motorists to never attempt to drive across a flooded roadway. The water may be much deeper than it appears, and it only takes a small amount of water to sweep a vehicle away.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
High water could also block escape routes for those in rural and suburban areas, so it is even more vital to plan ahead of the severe weather. Residents should ensure flashlights are in working order and generators are ready.
AccuWeather meteorologists do not expect the severe weather and flooding threats to let up anytime soon.
"On Monday, a couple pieces of energy will be moving through the north-central U.S. which will help to set off more feisty thunderstorms. Instead of one consolidated area of severe weather, there may be a few pockets where thunderstorms become more severe than others," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
Tuesday will feature yet another threat for severe weather from portions of southern Ontario through Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and into Iowa.
Looking ahead, forecasters are watching the possibility of cooler, calmer weather for the region.
"We are watching for the potential for a couple of cool shots to come into the northern Plains and the Midwest during the second half of the week," said Roys. The first cool shot will come around Wednesday or Thursday and will only last a couple of days, bringing temperatures near or slightly below average.
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Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo