For more than 20 years Earth Networks has operated the world’s largest and most comprehensive weather observation, lightning detection, and climate networks.
We are now leveraging our big data smarts to deliver on the promise of IoT. By integrating our hyper-local weather data with Smart Home connected devices we are delievering predictive energy efficiency insight to homeowners and Utility companies.
A far-stretched front will sweep across the central U.S. today, prompting the chance for strong or severe thunderstorms. All modes of severe will once again be on the menu today, with high wind gusts the main threat.
This stout cold front will stem from a low pressure system that began developing over the Rockies earlier this week. As this front pushes across a very unstable environment this afternoon and evening, it will likely result in a long line of robust thunderstorms from the Dakotas and Minnesota to the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center has placed a small area within a Slight Risk for severe weather today, which includes eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota into northeastern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa. Storms that form here will be capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 50 mph and large hail, though an isolated tornado will also be possible. A few cities that should pay especially close attention to the weather include Norfolk, Neb., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sioux City, Iowa.
Although not in the main threat area for severe weather today, cities such as Lubbock, Texas, Woodward, Okla., Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., and Fargo, N.D., will all have a chance to see isolated strong storm today. Threats will gradually shift eastward as the day carries on, anyone located in the Upper Mississippi Valley will need to pay close attention to the weather towards tonight.
This same system was responsible for 100 storm reports on Tuesday, with over 90 being related to high wind gust damage across the High Plains and Rockies. Regardless of location, it is important to stay weather ready, so you don’t have to get ready.
One of the ways to remain ready is by knowing alerts and their respective meanings. If a watch is issued, that means that severe weather is possible, and you need to remain vigilant for any changing weather. If a warning is issued, that means that severe weather is imminent, and you need to act fast to remain safe. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”