Damaging storms to threaten Minneapolis to Chicago as weekend ends
A line of damaging thunderstorms threaten to blast southward across the midwestern United States as this weekend comes to a close.
The renewed threat of damaging winds and flash flooding will put the cities of Minneapolis; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Madison, Wisconsin; and Chicago at risk of slower travel on the roads and delays in the air.
Even worse, flooding, power outages and tree and structural damage can occur in these cities and surrounding communities.
Thunderstorms will congregate and gain strength along the dividing line between steamy air to the south and dry, cool air to the north.
The storms will race in a northwest to southeast manner from central Minnesota to northern Illinois.
“We are watching the potential for a well-organized complex of storms to develop on Sunday evening from Minnesota, down into eastern Iowa, western Wisconsin and northern Illinois,” AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Kayla St. Germain said.
Along with frequent lightning strikes, damaging winds and localized flash flooding will be the primary threats in the aforementioned areas, according to St. Germain.
Hail will also be produced as the thunderstorms initiate in Minnesota and neighboring Wisconsin. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
The risk zone will also extend southward into far northeastern Missouri and central Illinois, where the main complex of thunderstorms will drop southward on Monday morning.
A majority of the intense thunderstorms will occur at night, which will endanger those who are sleeping. Investing in a weather radio or keeping a cell phone on with the volume turned up and severe alerts enabled will help keep you aware of severe weather after dark.
The threat for severe weather in the region will not end with the new week.
“The threat for powerful and damaging thunderstorms on Sunday night will only be the start of an active pattern next week in the Midwest,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael Doll said.
After the strong thunderstorms to start Monday weaken, a new round will erupt later on Monday.
Exactly where thunderstorms blossom late Monday afternoon and Monday night will be determined by the movement of Sunday night’s cluster of storms.
Latest indications point toward severe thunderstorms re-igniting from northern Missouri to northern Ohio and far southern Michigan.
Damaging winds will once again be produced by the strongest thunderstorms. Hail may also pound a few communities.
"There is also the risk for flash flooding as the thunderstorms could track repeatedly over the same areas," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.
Even if flooding does not ensue, downpours would create hazards for motorists by reducing visibility and heightening the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.
More heavy and gusty thunderstorms may target the lower Midwest states on Tuesday as yet another round of severe weather fires across the Upper Midwest.
