Severe storms, torrential downpours to erupt in eastern, central US ahead of July 4th holiday
Thunderstorms will continue to prowl portions of the central and eastern United States through this weekend although some of the most dangerous conditions may be produced by flooding downpours.
Police in Holmen, Wisconsin, issued a lighthearted warning that urged drivers to steer clear of flooded streets following heavy rainfall unless they had cars that could float or “made prior arrangements with your kayak-owning friend.”
Thunderstorms will erupt as the decaying heat dome gives way, feeding on the lingering hot and humid air across parts of the central and eastern United States. These storms are likely to cluster near advancing cool air boundaries. Some of these storms will be severe and/or bring flooding downpours, AccuWeather meteorologists warn.
On Friday evening, severe thunderstorms generated several preliminary tornado reports across central North Dakota, as well as hail and wind reports that stretched into portions of central South Dakota. Trees were uprooted in some areas and tennis ball sized hail was reported in Oliver and Douglas counties in North Dakota. Across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Southeast, thunderstorm winds toppled trees and there were instances of quarter sized hail in Alabama and Georgia. Flash flooding also affected portions of southwestern Pennsylvania and southward into the higher terrain of West Virginia and Virginia.
As the front that brought Friday's severe weather advanced, wind reports dotted an area from New York southward through Georgia.
On Sunday, heavy and gusty to locally severe thunderstorms will tend to press southeastward and extend from Wisconsin to the High Plains of Colorado, Wyoming and northeastern New Mexico.
In the zone from eastern Iowa to northeastern Kansas and central Missouri, a greater concentration of severe weather is likely, with some storms capable of producing damaging hail, a few tornadoes and powerful wind gusts.
The same storm and trailing front over the central Plains and western Great Lakes will push to the south and east on Monday. The major Midwest hubs of Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and Indianapolis are likely to be dealing with severe weather at some point on Monday afternoon and evening.
The same setup may advance into parts of the Northeast and southern Appalachians on Tuesday.
Those traveling before the Independence Day holiday should take note of the storms on both Monday and Tuesday. Summertime severe weather typically ramps up in the afternoon and diminishes during the evening. Early morning flights are often least affected by weather this time of year.
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