Soggy start to the weekend for midwestern US
By
Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 11, 2020 11:06 AM EDT
Outdoor furniture turned into flying projectiles due to high wind gusts in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 7. An EF0 tornado was confirmed in the area.
Residents across part of the Midwest may have to reconsider outdoor plans during the first half of the weekend, as a swath of rain and thunderstorms is dampening the region.
The same storm system that dumped heavy snow and caused temperatures to take a nosedive across the Rockies earlier this week swirled over the Four Corners region for days this past week. Temperatures moderated and precipitation turned more spotty underneath the storm system.
This system is finally lifting northeastward into the Midwest, and while it will bring no snow to the region, it will put a damper on outdoor plans, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz.
A swath of rain and thunderstorms began to gather over the North Central states on Friday and expanded eastward into the upper and middle Mississippi valleys on Friday night.
This radar image from early Saturday morning shows the swath of rain and storms across the Midwest. (AccuWeather)
"Clouds and rain showers will spread through the western and central Great Lakes into Saturday night," Benz said. A few thunderstorms are also possible, particularly on the southern side of the system.
People from St. Louis to Chicago; Madison, Wisconsin; and Marquette, Michigan, will want to keep a close eye on the radar and AccuWeather MinuteCast® throughout Saturday to determine any dry periods that may allow for a quick walk outside. Otherwise, umbrellas will want to be kept close at hand before heading out the door.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
A portion of this corridor -- particularly eastern Iowa, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin -- is already running above normal for rainfall so far this month. Two to 4 inches of rain with locally higher amounts fell this past week as moisture surged northward and stalled on the eastern side of the Rockies snowstorm.
While rainfall through Saturday will move along at a swifter pace, localized flooding cannot be ruled out given the saturated state of the ground. This is especially true in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Farther east, a surge of warmth and humidity ahead of the system may be enough to spark locally heavy thunderstorms.
"We can’t rule out a few stronger storms with gusty winds, especially across lower Michigan and southward towards Interstate 70 late Saturday into Saturday night," Benz said. "The good news is that this system keeps trucking east for Sunday, so many areas that see rain on Saturday should be treated with more sunshine for the end of the weekend."
It will instead be the eastern Great Lakes and central Appalachians that end the weekend on a stormy note, while drier air sweeps into the Midwest.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Soggy start to the weekend for midwestern US
By Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 11, 2020 11:06 AM EDT
Outdoor furniture turned into flying projectiles due to high wind gusts in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 7. An EF0 tornado was confirmed in the area.
Residents across part of the Midwest may have to reconsider outdoor plans during the first half of the weekend, as a swath of rain and thunderstorms is dampening the region.
The same storm system that dumped heavy snow and caused temperatures to take a nosedive across the Rockies earlier this week swirled over the Four Corners region for days this past week. Temperatures moderated and precipitation turned more spotty underneath the storm system.
This system is finally lifting northeastward into the Midwest, and while it will bring no snow to the region, it will put a damper on outdoor plans, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz.
A swath of rain and thunderstorms began to gather over the North Central states on Friday and expanded eastward into the upper and middle Mississippi valleys on Friday night.
This radar image from early Saturday morning shows the swath of rain and storms across the Midwest. (AccuWeather)
"Clouds and rain showers will spread through the western and central Great Lakes into Saturday night," Benz said. A few thunderstorms are also possible, particularly on the southern side of the system.
People from St. Louis to Chicago; Madison, Wisconsin; and Marquette, Michigan, will want to keep a close eye on the radar and AccuWeather MinuteCast® throughout Saturday to determine any dry periods that may allow for a quick walk outside. Otherwise, umbrellas will want to be kept close at hand before heading out the door.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
A portion of this corridor -- particularly eastern Iowa, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin -- is already running above normal for rainfall so far this month. Two to 4 inches of rain with locally higher amounts fell this past week as moisture surged northward and stalled on the eastern side of the Rockies snowstorm.
While rainfall through Saturday will move along at a swifter pace, localized flooding cannot be ruled out given the saturated state of the ground. This is especially true in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Farther east, a surge of warmth and humidity ahead of the system may be enough to spark locally heavy thunderstorms.
Related:
"We can’t rule out a few stronger storms with gusty winds, especially across lower Michigan and southward towards Interstate 70 late Saturday into Saturday night," Benz said. "The good news is that this system keeps trucking east for Sunday, so many areas that see rain on Saturday should be treated with more sunshine for the end of the weekend."
It will instead be the eastern Great Lakes and central Appalachians that end the weekend on a stormy note, while drier air sweeps into the Midwest.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo