Strong Storms to End Sunday From Iowa to Wisconsin

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

May 3,2015; 9:20PM,EDT

 

 

Strong thunderstorms threaten to close out the weekend across parts of the Upper Midwest, posing risks to those with outdoor plans and potentially causing damage.
Residents in the corridor from Iowa and neighboring communities in Nebraska to southern Minnesota and Wisconsin will have to remain alert for the violent thunderstorms through Sunday evening.
Cities within this zone include Rochester, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; Sioux City and Des Moines, Iowa; and La Crosse and Green Bay, Wisconsin. The strongest thunderstorms will erupt to the south and east of Minneapolis.

Not every one of these cities nor communities in the Upper Midwest will face a strong thunderstorm into Sunday evening as a widespread severe weather outbreak is not expected. However, it only takes one violent thunderstorm to cause damage or bodily harm.
The stronger storms will be capable of producing wind gusts to 70 mph, large hail and heavy rain. The strength of the winds could damage trees and loose lawn items and cause sporadic power outages.
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All motorists traveling on stretches of Interstates 29, 35, 80, 90 and 94 when the thunderstorms roll through will face blinding downpours and reduced visibility.
Regardless of the severity of the thunderstorms, residents should seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard. You are then close enough to be struck by lightning.
Stay ahead of the strong thunderstorms with AccuWeather.com MinuteCast®, tailored to your specific location.
The strong thunderstorms will erupt as a cold front slices into the warm and moist air surging into the Upper Midwest.
On Monday, the northern half of the area at risk for Sunday's stronger thunderstorms will dry out as thunderstorms rumble from the central Plains to the lower and eastern Great Lakes.
There is concern for that the thunderstorms from southern Iowa to northern Kansas will turn severe Monday afternoon. Once again, Omaha and Des Moines will be threatened.

Drenching and violent thunderstorms will also take aim at the southern High Plains later Monday through Tuesday. On Wednesday, severe thunderstorms may return to the zone from South Dakota to Kansas.