Tornado Threat: Midwest and Plains Brace for Severe Storms

Midwest and Plains Under Threat of Severe Weather

Get ready, folks! The Weather Channel is warning of a multiday outbreak of severe weather starting Friday, and it’s going to be a wild ride.

Friday’s Forecast: A Day of Intense Storms

The action kicks off Friday morning with strong to severe storms in the Ozarks and Ohio Valley. But hold on, because the real intensity is expected later today.

The Ohio and mid-Mississippi valleys are in the bullseye, with cities like Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis at high risk.

We’re talking the possibility of devastating hail the size of tennis balls, winds gusting over 75 mph, and tornadoes – some of them potentially long-lasting and intense.

Southeast Missouri to southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western and central Kentucky, northern Tennessee, and southwest Ohio could see widespread damaging winds that could knock down trees and disrupt power.

There’s also a chance for scattered severe storms in the Ark-La-Tex and even as far east as the mid-Atlantic states.

Weekend and Early Week: The Storm Train Keeps Rolling

The severe weather isn’t done with us yet. From Saturday through Tuesday, there’s a good chance of more thunderstorms, especially in the Central and Southern Plains.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Saturday:

Scattered storms are possible in the East, from New York to North Carolina, and in parts of the South, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Wind damage and large hail are the main risks, but we can’t rule out an isolated tornado.

Sunday:

The big storm threat shifts into the Central and Southern Plains, with central Kansas to northern Oklahoma being particularly vulnerable.

Cities like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Wichita need to stay weather-aware as tornadoes, wind damage, and large hail are all possibilities.

Monday:

Severe weather sticks around in the Central and Southern Plains, potentially stretching as far north and east as southern Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas.

Central and eastern Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa, are at highest risk for supercell thunderstorms – the kind that can spawn tornadoes and bring with them damaging hail and high winds.

Tuesday:

The storm track may shift east toward the Ark-La-Tex and mid-Mississippi Valley. It’s still too early to say exactly what kind of impact we’ll see, but stay tuned to The Weather Channel App and weather.com for updates.

Why the Plains and Midwest are Feeling the Heat

A southward plunge of the jet stream will bring strong winds aloft across the Plains and Midwest by Friday.

This means warm and humid air from the Gulf will surge northward under that jet stream, creating a prime environment for severe thunderstorms.

This time of year, the Plains and Midwest are prime tornado territory, and this pattern sets the stage for more powerful storms.

Chris Dolce, a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com, has been tracking these storms for nearly 15 years.