Multiple severe weather threats to emerge this week
A storm expected to develop across the center of the country will bring a multiday severe weather risk to the nation’s midsection this week.
Following this past weekend's active severe weather, conditions were much quieter on Monday. However, that did not last long, and AccuWeather forecasters say more opportunities for severe weather will arrive each day for the rest of the work week.
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Severe weather on Tuesday was quite isolated, with some places in the area of concern seeing little in the way of threatening weather. However, the storms that did develop quickly turned severe, including a long-tracked storm that moved through much of Nebraska late Tuesday night.
The storm carved a path over 200 miles in length, bringing hail the size of tennis balls to some places in its path. The Lincoln and Omaha metro areas were impacted as well, before the storm fizzled out soon afterward.
While Tuesday's storms were quite spotty, that may change heading into Wednesday and beyond.
The midweek threat is set to extend from north-central Texas to far southern Minnesota, and possibly eastward into portions of Illinois and Wisconsin. Storms may be more numerous as well, with the most likely area for severe weather including cities such as Oklahoma City, Wichita, Kansas, and Des Moines, Iowa. Hail and damaging wind gusts will remain the primary severe hazards, though a few tornadoes are also possible.
"Across much of Wednesday's threat area, storms may not develop until late evening or even after midnight. Those at risk will want to have a way of receiving warnings overnight," AccuWeather Meteorologist Andrew Johnson-Levine cautioned.
The threat of severe storms is also set to continue into Thursday.
"On Thursday, as the area of low pressure strengthens in the center of the country, the severe thunderstorm threat is likely to continue across the Midwest, mid-Mississippi Valley and western Ohio Valley," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said. While some uncertainty exists as to where the most storms will occur, the region from southern Missouri to northeast Texas appears to be best in line to see intense storms, and potentially multiple rounds of them.
Similar to the day prior, damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes will all be in the picture on Thursday. Cities such as Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri, and potentially Chicago, may be impacted by intense storms. While some uncertainty exists as to where the most severe weather will occur, the region from southern Missouri to northeast Texas appears to be best in line to see intense storms, and potentially multiple rounds of them.
While details remain more uncertain, severe storms are set to continue into Friday as a potent disturbance slides toward the Southeast.
Like on Thursday, some uncertainty remains regarding the exact placement of these strong storms. Should the disturbance take a more southerly track, the Gulf Coast may be best in line to see dangerous weather. However, a more northerly track could instead bring these storms into Arkansas, Tennessee and even parts of Kentucky.
By Saturday, the intense storm system will pivot toward the East Coast. With plenty of warm air and moisture already in place, severe storms will likely remain a threat. However, where exactly they develop, and how long into the night they manage to last, are details that are low in confidence so far ahead of time.
The same storm system is likely to aggravate the flooding that has already initiated over portions of the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest.
"The storm with its surge of warm air and drenching rain, could make matters worse for areas along the upper portion of the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the coming days and weeks," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
AccuWeather forecasters will continue to closely monitor the likelihood of severe weather and flooding in the coming days.
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