Central US to face more severe storms, flooding downpours into Sunday night
AccuWeather's Reed Timmer watched as a tornado touched down near Lower Brule, South Dakota on August 9. The chase began as the tornado started to move.
The threat for thunderstorms capable of producing damaging, isolated tornadoes and flooding will focus on the central United States to end the weekend.
After localized severe weather targeted the northern Plains on Saturday and torrential rain started Sunday in eastern Kansas and Missouri, AccuWeather meteorologists are concerned for a greater risk of severe thunderstorms and flooding downpours through Sunday night.
"It may be very active in terms of severe weather with high winds and large hail possibly taking center stage from the eastern slopes of the Rockies to much of the central and northern Plains through Sunday night," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Downed trees and power lines are possible as wind gusts can reach an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 70 mph.
A few tornadoes are possible in the strongest thunderstorms.
Motorists on stretches on interstates 25, 76, 80, 90 and 94 should be ready to slow down in any downpours to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
Damaging winds and flash flooding will become the greatest concerns as the thunderstorms reach the central Plains on Sunday night.
Flooded roadways are extremely difficult to see at night, so motorists are urged to use caution.
The Interstate-80 corridor in Nebraska may be especially hit hard by heavy rainfall and powerful winds on Sunday night.
Areas along the Iowa-Missouri border and into western Illinois could also face heavy, gusty thunderstorms after dark.
Farther north, a more general area of rain with some rumbles of thunder is forecast to sweep through the Dakotas during this time.
As the storm threatening the Plains to end the weekend heads eastward, the risk for severe weather and flooding will focus on areas from Kansas City, Missouri, to St. Louis, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. Isolated tornadoes are among the dangers later Monday into Monday night.
The rain and violent thunderstorms will reach the Northeast by Tuesday, putting an end to its stretch of pleasant weather.
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