Tornadoes Return to the Plains and Midwest
"A swath of widespread wind damage stretching for hundreds of miles is possible."The stormy weather pattern across the country continues today with severe weather expected from the High Plains into the Ohio Valley.
Similar to what has been going on the last couple of days, thunderstorms will be scattered in nature and, in some cases, organized in large clusters that will travel hundreds of miles.
Ohio Valley
One or more complex of dangerous thunderstorms moving across the Ohio Valley will impact southern Indiana, southern Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and western North Carolina as the day progresses.
Torrential downpours and damaging wind gusts will be the most widespread impacts in this zone. The strongest thunderstorms can produce large hail as well.
With daytime heating, additional thunderstorm development will occur outside of organized thunderstorm complexes, which could lead to an isolated tornado threat.
The cities of Cincinnati, Ohio, Paducah, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C., are at risk.
While lightning and flooding downpours are always a threat, some storms could produce hail and powerful wind gusts capable of knocking down trees and power lines. Should one or more long-lived complexes track through the Ohio Valley, a swath of widespread wind damage stretching for hundreds of miles is possible.
If you choose to go spend some time outdoors today, be sure to seek safe shelter at the first sign of a thunderstorm.
Plains
Another trouble spot for severe weather today and especially tonight will be from the High Plains into the Midwest. This includes the cities of Omaha, Neb., Scottsbluff, Neb., Rapid City, S.D., Minot, N.D., Cheyenne, Wyo., and Pierre, S.D.
Developing low pressure on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains will tap into some warm, moist air to the south, setting the stage for severe thunderstorm development.
At first, with some daytime heating, thunderstorms will erupt across the High Plains during the afternoon hours. Cities such as Cheyenne, Rapid City, and Minot will need to be on the lookout for rapidly changing conditions during the afternoon and evening.
At first, these storms will be capable of producing hail to the size of baseballs and damaging wind gusts to 65 mph.
The thunderstorms will likely organize into one or more large complexes by the evening and late-night hours, pushing farther east into the Midwest. Nocturnal thunderstorms may affect Lincoln and Omaha along with Bismarck, and perhaps Des Moines after midnight.
Sudden, strong wind gusts above 60 mph in association with heavy rain and pelting hail, known as a downburst, could occur in some of these storms. A brief tornado is also not out of the question, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours.
The weather will have to be watched carefully in Omaha, Neb., where two College World Series games are being played. The weather should be dry for the game at 1 p.m. CDT, but thunderstorms could be bearing down on Omaha by the 6 p.m. CDT game.
Unfortunately, parts of the Midwest will be targeted by strong storms again on Monday as the wet, stormy pattern continues into early next week.
Bron: Accuweather