Thunderstorms to march across central US through Sunday
Thunderstorms may hamper outdoor plans across the Central states through Sunday, but the wet weather will be a welcome sight for farmers.
The threat of thunderstorms from the Plains to the Midwest through Sunday may put a damper on some outdoor enthusiasts' plans; however, farmers across America's corn and soybean belt can rejoice as Mother Nature continues to produce the ingredients needed for a healthy crop. The rain will come at the risk of gusty winds, frequent lightning and localized flash flooding, forecasters warn.
Conditions have been toasty across the central and northern Plains as of late, with temperatures climbing well into the 90s F across the Dakotas and Nebraska. Farther south, temperatures exceeding the century mark have been common. Widespread cloud cover and generally non-severe showers and thunderstorms also kept the heat in check across the northern Plains on Saturday.
An additional slug of moisture is expected to be injected into the thunderstorm activity on Sunday across the Midwest, which could begin to elevate flash flooding concerns. Areas included in this risk include Louisville and Cincinnati, as well as much of central Illinois.
Atmospheric conditions are expected to become much more conducive for drenching thunderstorms across the Ohio Valley during the day on Sunday.
Some major metropolitan areas could lie within the zone of potentially heavy rain on Sunday across the Midwest. Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and even Detroit could get in on some of the action. Many major thoroughfares such as interstates 65, 69, 70, 75 and 80 could be impacted by the rainy conditions. Ponding on the shoulders of roadways can lead to brief episodes of hydroplaning, posing a risk to motorists.
In addition to heavy rainfall, these storms may bring a threat of locally damaging winds centered in the Ohio Valley.
Stretching from south-central Missouri to southwest Pennsylvania, the most intense storms could put down bursts of strong to perhaps damaging winds. This is most likely during the late afternoon and early evening hours when storms are typically at their strongest. While the benefits of the expected rainfall will likely outweigh the severe threat, light damage to trees and structures and localized power outages will be possible.
While it is never ideal to have rainfall over the weekend, this may be the last chance for quite some time across portions of the Plains and Midwest, as a dome of high pressure is expected to bring along an extended stretch of dry and hot conditions to the region this week.
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