Rain is needed in the region, where drought has been growing in recent months, but it will come at a price because thunderstorms are expected to turn severe.

By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist

Published Sep 26, 2023 11:29 AM EDT | Updated Sep 27, 2023 3:32 PM EDT

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Rounds of severe thunderstorms will occur across the Midwest as a slow-moving storm continues to drift through the region into midweek. However, the storms will also bring beneficial rainfall to the area which has been experiencing growing drought conditions in recent months, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

The same system, an area of low pressure, that will trigger severe weather in the coming days was the culprit behind severe weather in Wisconsin Monday. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) reported that a tornado touched down near New Glarus, Wisconsin, and was able to be confirmed by videos and photos posted on social media. New Glarus, home to the famed New Glarus Brewing Company, is a household name for just about any resident across the state of Wisconsin. No major damage has been reported in the wake of the twister.

Midweek severe weather is expected to touch off a bit farther to the south and east from where storms turned nasty Monday. Thunderstorms could turn severe across southern portions of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois as well as much of Kentucky, AccuWeather forecasters say.

A number of major cities and interstates will be in the path of severe weather into Wednesday night. Residents of Louisville, Nashville and Indianapolis and motorists traveling along interstates 64, 65 and 71 could be in the crosshairs of rapidly changing conditions as the day progresses.

The primary risk associated with the expected midweek thunderstorm activity includes hail, drenching downpours and damaging wind gusts. Wind gusts associated with severe thunderstorm activity will generally top out between 50 and 60 mph, but some of the most intense thunderstorms could produce wind gusts that approach the AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 70 mph.

Wind gusts of that magnitude can easily topple trees, overturn high-profile vehicles and cut power.

The system igniting severe weather is expected to progressively lose intensity into the end of the week. As a result, the potential for violent thunderstorms will diminish from Thursday to Friday.

However, because of the slow forward speed of the storm system, many of the same areas affected by severe weather across the Ohio Valley can expect a continued risk for showers and a few rumbles of thunder into Thursday evening.

Looking ahead to the weekend, good news is on the way for anyone hoping for a return of warm and sunny weather across the Midwest.

A return of high pressure should make for a perfect weekend to get out and enjoy outdoor activities, AccuWeather forecasters say.

However, as the warmth transitions into a heat wave, a number of record highs may be challenged over the North-Central states and waters on area rivers are likely to dip even lower from their near rock-bottom levels.