Severe storms to strike at major Midwest hubs early this week
A press of cooler air will set off a swath of heavy to severe thunderstorms from Missouri, Iowa and Illinois to Indiana, Michigan and Ohio into Monday night.
The storms will target a heavily populated and well-traveled corridor that includes Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City, Missouri.
Airline passengers should expect delays as aircraft may have to circle around the storms or be held at departure and arrival locations until the storms have passed. Considerable turbulence is possible in the region as well.
Motorists should expect sudden changes in visibility due to torrential downpours that may be accompanied by strong wind gusts and vivid lightning.
Stretches of Interstate 80, I-94, and I-96 will be at particular risk for rapidly changing weather conditions.
Since some of the storms will produce torrential downpours, flash flooding is likely in some neighborhoods and patches of major highways.
The storms have had a history of producing excessive rainfall. A number of communities in northern and central Iowa received 3-5 inches of rain from Sunday night into Monday morning.
Some of the storms may be intense enough to produce wind gusts that can knock down trees and cause power outages.
Hail large enough to damage crops and vehicles may also occur with some of the storms.
Locally strong storms will also affect parts of southern Ontario including London and Toronto, and may reach portions of western and central New York state Monday night.
As the press of cooler air advances to the southeast, so will the threat of thunderstorms.
Midwestern cities that could be hit with disruptions to daily activities and travel delays include St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday.
Portions of the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and New England regions can also expect heavy-duty thunderstorms with the possibility localized severe weather.
In the wake of the storms, temperatures will be trimmed by 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels will be lowered by a few notches.
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