Rounds of severe weather to target US High Plains into Friday night

Portions of the north-central United States that have already been rocked by severe weather this week will be at risk for more violent thunderstorms into Friday night.

Storms produced dozens of reports of large hail and high winds across northeastern Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa on Wednesday. Isolated severe storms also popped up in Wyoming, with one storm producing a tornado near Laramie.

On Thursday, severe storms rumbled through Montana, while another thunderstorm complex in the southern Plains triggered flash flooding in Oklahoma City.

On Friday, severe storms propped hail as large as baseballs near Rapid City, South Dakota.

Through the end of the workweek, clusters of storms will continue to ride the periphery of the core of intense heat in the central U.S.

Severe storms are expected to fire up late in the day in western South Dakota Friday, possibly near or or just east of Rapid City, and Nebraska. These storms will expand to the south and east into the evening and overnight hours.

Isolated severe storms may extend as far south as part of western Kansas and the northern Texas panhandle late Friday.

“The main threats with the storms will include large hail and damaging wind gusts,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.

An isolated tornado or two will also be possible.

While not every location within the areas at risk will experience damage, residents and visitors throughout the region will want to be sure to keep their cell phones charged with severe weather alerts enabled to know when dangerous weather is imminent.

Those outside trying to beat the heat at a swimming pool or lake should be on the lookout for rapidly building and darkening clouds. When you hear thunder or see a flash of lightning, head indoors or into your car if no sturdy structures are nearby.

People should also be aware that the threat for flash flooding will be high through the end of the week, especially during the nighttime hours.

“Parts of the Plains are currently in drought,” Adamson said. “However, recent storms, combined with any areas that see several more rounds of storms, could cause flooding in some areas despite the overall dry conditions.”

High water prompted several road closures in northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska Wednesday night.

Motorists are reminded never to attempt to drive through a flooded roadway. Instead, one should turn around and find a safer alternate route.

There is the potential for one or two more rounds of severe weather to threaten the northern Plains over the weekend ahead of a sweep of much cooler air.

Report a Typo