WeatherFanatics: Severe Storms to Strike Kansas City, Chicago Midweek

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Severe Storms to Strike Kansas City, Chicago Midweek

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

September 7,2014; 9:30PM,EDT

A rather potent system cutting across the central United States and into the Great Lakes will bring a couple of days of wild weather for many during the middle of the week.
This area of low pressure will resemble more of a midautumn storm rather than a late summer storm in terms of its strength and characteristics.
Severe thunderstorms will erupt ahead of the system, feeding off a warm and juicy air mass. Meanwhile, a blast of chilly air will invade areas in the wake of this storm, bringing the threat of frost and snow to some.

Rounds of Severe Weather to Strike Midweek

The clashing of these sharply distinct air masses will set the stage for rounds of severe weather Tuesday evening into early Thursday.

Major cities at risk for severe storms include St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago; Indianapolis; Detroit; and Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio.
"The best chances for severe weather will begin Tuesday afternoon into the night," said AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Brian Knopick. "The area we are concerned with includes northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa."
The threat will shift eastward for Wednesday, targeting several major cities around the Great Lakes.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Severe Center
Interactive Radar
Frost to Hit, Snow Possible in Parts of North Central States
"There will be risk for damaging storms around the Chicago area and farther east to Cleveland," added Knopick. "Storms will also stretch southward into northeastern Oklahoma."
Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are all possible with these storms as they rumble through. Knopick also warned that torrential downpours could lead to flash flooding in communities.
Some of the moisture will be associated with the remnants of Norbert after it departs the Southwest.
Motorists are advised to be alert for flooded roadways. Travel issues could arise during the evening rush hour, when these storms will likely hit the most people.
Stronger areas of low pressure often form in the fall months as colder air begins to sink southward and the jet stream becomes more amplified. This sets up a battle zone between warm and cold air masses which can stir up violent thunderstorms.

Chilly Blast of Air to Follow Severe Storms

A blast of chilly air will follow in the wake of this potent system, dropping temperatures well below normal across much of the northern portion of the country.
Folks will be quickly reminded that autumn, and even winter is right around the corner.

High temperatures are expected to drop between 10 to 25 degrees below normal for the second half of the week across a large section of the Plains and Upper Midwest.
Some folks could even find themselves observing temperatures more than 30 degrees below normal.
With such a deep cold push of air, frost will be possible and some could even see a few snowflakes fall.
The first day of autumn officially starts Sept. 22 at 9:29 p.m. CDT.

On Social Media

AccuWeather Updates