Mid-Fall Warmup, Spooky Storms Expected Across Central U.S.

A lot of places across the Midwest will likely experience mid-spring weather instead of mid-fall conditions this week.

The catalyst for the very unseasonable weather expected this week will stem from a developing low pressure system over the Rockies that will organize further over the Great Plains. This system, coupled with high pressure located along the East Coast, will help pull warm air across the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley today through Wednesday.

Widespread high temperatures skyrocketing into the mid-to-upper 80s are expected today, with the mercury even reaching the low-90s across Kansas and Oklahoma. Cities such as Dodge City and Liberal, Kan., and Buffalo and Beaver, Okla., could see temperatures reach up to 25 degrees above normal for this time of year. If Dodge City, Kan., reaches 92 degrees this afternoon, that would tie the record high temperature set in 2016. Medicine Lodge, Kan., also has a decent chance at tying or breaking their record high temperature of 88 degrees set in 1922.

To make matters worse, winds will be howling across the central U.S. Sustained winds up to 30 mph and gusts up to 45-50 mph are expected this afternoon and evening. This could create a dangerous wildfire scenario for southeastern Colorado, southern Kansas, northern Texas into east-central Oklahoma. This is where Red Flag Warnings have been posted.

Once the system gets going, a strong cold front will likely develop which will likely lead to strong or even severe thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. As of right now, the more robust storms will be possible across central Kansas, eastern Nebraska into western Iowa, southeastern South Dakota, Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Cities such as Omaha, Lincoln and Norfolk, Neb., Minneapolis, and Sioux Falls, S.D., are all included in this zone.

Shifting into Thursday, the severe threat will likely pivot eastward early in the morning as the front slowly crosses into the central Mississippi Valley. Cities such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., and Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., will all need to monitor the progression of this front as gusty thunderstorms, large hail and even an isolated tornado or two will be possible here.

Make sure to check the WeatherBug app for continued updates as we follow the developing weather this week.