Severe Storms Rumble Into The Ohio Valley

Severe thunderstorms will continue to rumble eastward this evening and as they move across portions of the Ohio Valley into the Lower Great Lakes.

The same storm system that produced nearly two dozen tornado reports across the Plains and Midwest since Monday is moving over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley today. 

As such, the government's Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk, or a rating of 2 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, for today most of Ohio, northwestern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Cities at risk today include Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. 

Sparked by a surface-based cold front, thunderstorms today will be capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. 

A Tornado Watch is in effect for much of Ohio into western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, including the cities of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Morgantown, W.V. This means that storms in the watch area have a greater chance of forming tornadoes than those outside the area.

A secondary area of severe thunderstorms will also be possible across portions of northeastern Kansas into west-central Missouri, including Kansas City, Mo. Here, another Slight Risk has been issued for thunderstorms today.

The primary threat with these storms will be large hail up to golf ball size. 

Additional strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible from the southern Plains into the western Ohio Valley on Thursday. 

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.

Be sure to keep up with the latest watches and warnings on the WeatherBug website and our WeatherBug app. Also, it would be smart to have a severe weather plan in place in case severe weather strikes your area.