There will be no shortage of dangerous weather across the nation’s midsection today and on Wednesday. Destructive wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes, a couple which may be intense, will be possible.
An area of low pressure emerging from the Rockies will strengthen through Wednesday as it darts into the western Great Lakes. Plenty of warm, humid air will collide with much cooler, drier weather in the wake of the storm’s cold front. The combination will likely foster a multi-day storm outbreak from Texas to Kansas and as far east as the Tennessee, Ohio, and Lower Mississippi valleys.
A Tornado Watch is in effect across south-central Kansas, much of western, central, and northeastern Oklahoma, and northwestern Texas. Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Hobart, Ponca City, and Ardmore, Okla., are included.
The most intense thunderstorms will develop and multiply from Oklahoma to northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri this evening through early Wednesday morning. The government’s Storm Prediction Center has maintained an Enhanced Risk for an increased severe risk. Kansas City, Mo., Wichita, Kan., and Tulsa to Oklahoma City, Okla., are found in this elevated risk zone.
Abilene to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to Lincoln, Neb., will need to keep a watchful eye for threatening weather as well.
Isolated damaging wind gusts of 65 to 80 mph and hail up to baseball size in addition to a few tornadoes will be possible. An intense tornado or two cannot be ruled out from Kansas to far northern Texas through Wednesday morning.
The severe storm risk will shift farther east for midweek, arcing from the Lower Great Lakes to southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Thunderstorms will erupt well in advance of and along the storm’s cold front during the afternoon and evening. This activity may remain quite potent through Thursday morning, while possibly becoming repetitive from the Lower Ohio and Tennessee valleys to southern Oklahoma and northern Texas.
A Moderate Risk has been issued by the government’s Storm Prediction Center from far southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky to the Missouri Bootheel, eastern Arkansas, and western Tennessee. This includes Memphis and Jackson, Tenn., Jonesboro, Ark., and Evansville, Ind.
A large Enhanced Risk surrounds the moderate risk from Lower Michigan and northern Illinois to southeastern Oklahoma, northwestern Louisiana, and northern Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Shreveport, La., Little Rock, Ark., Chicago and Peoria, Ill., Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., and Indianapolis are found in this severe weather zone.
Other cities such as Springfield and St. Louis, Mo., Milwaukee, Detroit, and Cleveland may have to contend with a dangerous storm encounter as well.
Isolated to scattered damaging wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph, isolated instances of hail larger than baseballs, and several tornadoes will be possible. A few tornadoes may be intense, especially from eastern Arkansas and western Tennessee and Kentucky and as far north as far southwestern Indiana on Wednesday and early Thursday morning.
The storm’s tentacles won’t be limited to just severe weather. Soaking, repetitive waves of thunderstorms will increase the rivers, streams, creeks, and urban flooding risk throughout the remainder of this week. Several inches of rain, locally up to 10 inches, will pelt Arkansas to western Tennessee, Kentucky, and far southern Illinois to Indiana and Ohio. Flood Watches stretch from far southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas to southeastern Michigan and much of Ohio. Remember, if you approach a roadway covered in water, it is best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.
The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
