Severe storms to threaten central US daily; building risk in mid-April
Rounds of thunderstorms will bring repeated downpours and localized severe weather from the Plains to the Great Lakes, raising the risk of flooding and damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes into next week.
Severe storms are targeting the middle of the country day after day from April 9-14.
A corridor of downpours and thunderstorms will stretch from Texas to the Great Lakes and may produce flooding and severe weather well into next week. Repeated downpours, especially in areas where streams and rivers are already high or out of their banks, will increase the risk of significant flooding.
Over several days, 1-4 inches of rain is expected from Texas to Michigan, with localized totals of 4-6 inches.
Many areas of the central United States need rain, and aside from the risk of street and highway flooding, it will be beneficial, given the ongoing drought. In some areas, the severe weather risk will persist for days; in others, it will be more sporadic.
On most days, severe weather coverage will be localized, but on some afternoons and evenings when a more potent setup unfolds, more concentrated areas of intense storms may develop.
Below is a day-by-day breakdown of severe weather into next week.
Friday
After thunderstorms brought gusty winds and hail to the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and Kansas Thursday afternoon and night, the risk of severe thunderstorms will again focus on the southern and central parts of the Plains states Friday afternoon and night.
Friday's severe storm zone will extend from eastern New Mexico to south-central Missouri and part of northwestern Arkansas.
Similar to Thursday, the main threats on Friday will be hail and high wind gusts.
Saturday
The risk of severe weather Saturday will expand across central and southern portions of the Plains, but will become more north-to-south oriented.
This day also brings the potential for stronger individual thunderstorms that could produce large hailstones and stronger wind gusts than on prior days.
Hail the size of baseballs may be possible Saturday over parts of the High Plains, which can injure livestock and cause significant vehicle and property damage.
Sunday
On Sunday, the scope of locally severe thunderstorms will expand even more and push into portions of the Mississippi Valley.
Once again, large hail and powerful wind gusts will be the main threats from Sunday to Sunday night. There will also be the potential for multiple tornadoes across portions of Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa.
In addition to the persistent zone of severe weather over the Central states this weekend, widely separated severe thunderstorms are also possible over parts of California and the Southwest.
Monday
On Monday, the zone with localized severe thunderstorms will extend from parts of central Texas to southern Minnesota, central Wisconsin and the Chicago area of Illinois.
Other major cities at risk Monday include Dallas, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Kansas City and Des Moines, Iowa.
Like on Sunday, the full spectrum of severe weather will be possible in the strongest storms, ranging from damaging hail and high winds to tornadoes.
Tuesday
Of all the days at risk for severe weather this week and next, Tuesday could end up being one of the more active days for severe thunderstorms.
Tuesday's severe weather risk zone will extend from northeastern Texas and northern Louisiana to southern Wisconsin, parts of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and northwestern Ohio. Hail, high winds and tornadoes are all possible in the strongest storms. A rather large zone is forecast where more numerous severe thunderstorms are anticipated (orange).
Wednesday
The risk of severe thunderstorms is likely to continue into the middle of next week as the corridor of moisture moves into a region of building warmth over the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, as well as part of the Northeast.
People are urged to stay informed about changing weather conditions when spending time outdoors.
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