Severe storms to elevate flood threat, strike at night in midwestern US

As additional thunderstorms erupt, the risk of severe weather and flash flooding will continue across parts of the midwestern United States around the clock through the middle of the week.

The major metro areas of Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland could be adversely affected by multiple storms through Wednesday night. Significant travel delays are likely.

Parts of the upper Mississippi and Ohio valleys, as well as portions of the Great Lakes and central Plains, will continue to be hit by showers and thunderstorms on a daily basis.

Storms turned locally violent and destructive on Tuesday night across the Upper Midwest and as far south as Chicago. Several tornadoes were reported near and west of Grand Forks, North Dakota late on Tuesday afternoon, leading to isolated damage. Thunderstorms with torrential downpours hit the Chicago area and produce flash flooding on Wednesday morning.

Similar to the weather pattern earlier this week, this area of storminess is expected to hover over the Midwest through Wednesday night and into Thursday.

The risk of locally heavy and gusty storms will extend as far east as New England, and as far west as Nebraska and northern Kansas into Wednesday night.

The storms may keep some people and pets awake at night, but there will be more to them besides downpours, thunder and lightning in some areas.

The strongest storms will carry the potential of high wind gusts, torrential rainfall and hail.

Many of the areas that were impacted by flash flooding on Sunday evening will again be at risk for receiving dangerous amounts of rain.

The risk of flash flooding will also extend to some areas that have been largely missed by storms in the past week.

Some communities may be hit with frequent lightning strikes, power outages, tree and property damage as well.

Because of the risk of severe weather during the overnight hours, people should have a means to receive weather bulletins, such as a cell phone, weather radio or smart TV.

On Thursday, the zone of heavy, gusty and locally severe storms will continue along a 1,700-mile long, east-west swath, while drifting southward.

Areas from the eastern slopes of the central Rockies to southern New England and the upper part of the mid-Atlantic region will be in the zone where potentially severe thunderstorms are most likely to erupt on Thursday.

Through Thursday, the storms will fire and move along the boundary separating cool and sticky air to the north from hot and very humid air to the south.

If possible, seek shelter indoors and keep away from windows as storms approach. A hard-top, metal vehicle can offer some protection. However, picnic pavilions, convertibles and golf carts do not offer adequate protection from lightning.

Never drive through a flooded roadway. The road surface may have been wash away. Less than 2 feet of water can cause your vehicle to float and be carried downstream.

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