Severe thunderstorms to rip through midwestern US into Friday night

Potent thunderstorms will threaten a portion of the midwestern United States with destructive winds and isolated tornadoes into Friday night.

In some communities, the storms will be strong enough to down trees and power lines and cause power outages. The most intense storms could cause structural damage.

The thunderstorms will ignite along the sharp dividing line between record warmth to the east and cold air plunging southward from the north and west.

“People, including school officials, will need to monitor severe weather bulletins as they are issued especially for activities during the afternoon and evening hours,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

Residents should keep a wary eye to the sky and seek shelter indoors immediately after the first rumble of thunder or stroke of lightning. A seemingly warm and tranquil afternoon can turn dangerous in a matter of minutes.

The primary threats from the storms will be torrential downpours, damaging winds and hail.

"It is possible that a couple of the strongest storms produce an isolated tornado,” AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Brian Knopick said.

Through Friday evening, areas from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Louisville, Kentucky, Detroit, Cincinnati and Nashville, Tennessee, will be at risk for gusty and locally severe thunderstorms.

The storms are likely to hit Cleveland; Huntington, West Virginia; and Knoxville, Tennessee, during the middle of the night.

By daybreak Saturday, the storms will be near Buffalo, New York; Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania; and Charleston, West Virginia.

Loose outdoor items should be secured or brought inside as sudden thunderstorm winds can turn them into dangerous projectiles.

Motorists will face rapidly changing roadway conditions during the afternoon and evening hours. This includes short- and long-term travelers along interstates 40, 64, 65, 70 and 75, to name a few.

The storms can still pack a punch in terms of locally damaging winds and torrential downpours across the mid-Atlantic on Saturday.

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