Much of the Plains could experience severe weather today, whether it’s gusty winds, hail or an isolated tornado.
A storm system and its attached cold front will advance through the Plains throughout this evening and early tonight. Teaming up with a fast-moving disturbance aloft and very warm and humid air, will carve out oodles of dangerous weather across the nation’s midsection.
The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted southeastern South Dakota, far southwestern Minnesota, far northwestern Iowa, Nebraska, far southeastern Wyoming, and far eastern Colorado with a Slight Risk, including Cheyenne, Wyo., McCook, Grand Island and Norfolk, Neb., Colby, Kan., Amarillo, Texas, and Sioux Falls, S.D. An Enhanced Risk covers western Kansas to the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. Garden City and Liberal, Kan., to Amarillo and Pampa, Texas, are included.
Thunderstorms will multiply this evening, lasting throughout much of overnight. Hail up to baseball size, as well as isolated to scattered destructive gusts of 70 to 80 mph, and a brief tornado or two could accompany the most intense activity.
Severe Thunderstorm Watches stretch from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles to far southeastern Wyoming, nearly all of Nebraska, far northwestern Iowa, and parts of central and southwestern Minnesota. Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, Altus and Gage, Okla., Wichita and Dodge City, Kan., Sioux City, Iowa, Norfolk and North Platte, Neb., and Chyenne, Wyo., are included.
This system’s cold front will later advance and bring additional severe weather concerns from central Texas northeast to southwestern Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The Storm Prediction Center already has a Slight Risk in place here, which includes Abilene and Fort Worth, Texas, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla., Kansas City and Joplin, Mo., and Davenport, Ill. Hail as large as golf balls as well as strong wind gusts exceeding 55 mph will be the main concern across the threat area. Isolated tornadoes may also occur from north-central Texas northeast to southern Wisconsin.
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they be 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. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's severe weather. Remember, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!"
