Detroit, Kansas City Face Severe Storms to End Sunday

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

June 7,2015; 9:08PM,EDT

 

 

A disturbance that brought severe storms to the Upper Midwest on Saturday will shift eastward and trigger more severe thunderstorms as the weekend comes to a close.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel, "A warm, moist air mass ahead of an approaching surface cold front will lead to thunderstorm development this afternoon. The atmosphere will be unstable enough for storms to turn severe."

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The greatest threat area for thunderstorms is expected to occur from northern Missouri to southern Michigan. Wind gusts over 65 mph will be possible.
Cities within this zone include Detroit, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana; Springfield, Illinois; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Chicago is also at risk, especially from the city southward.

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Strong thunderstorms will also erupt back to Kansas, eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico into Sunday night. This includes Wichita and Garden City, Kansas; Limon, Colorado; and Guymon, Oklahoma.
The main threats with the thunderstorms to end the weekend will be large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding. An isolated tornado, however, cannot be ruled out.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Michael Doll, "Rainfall rates with these storms can exceed 2 inches an hour and lead to flash flooding."
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Travel will become dangerous along stretches of interstates 35, 57, 65, 70, 80, 90, and 94 at times.
Power outages will be possible during or after the passage of a thunderstorm.
Anyone with outdoor activities should be alert for changing weather conditions and seek shelter when a storm approaches.
People heading to the airport should call ahead to check on the progress of their flight as there are the possibility for flight delays.
Keep up to date on changing weather conditions by using AccuWeather Minutecast®. Get minute-by-minute precipitation information by entering your current address.
When thunder roars, go indoors. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Remember to never drive through a flooded roadway. Less than a foot of water can wash away your vehicle.
Disruptive thunderstorms will not just be limited to the lower Midwest states and the central Plains but will also rattle parts of the Rockies.
"Thunderstorms that develop across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, will be fairly widespread but not as severe as previous days," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliott.
"The main threats will be gusty winds and heavy rain leading to flash flooding," Elliott continued. "Hail is also a possibility from the stronger and more organized storms."
As the cold front shifts eastward to begin the new week, severe storms will threaten areas from Tennessee to Pennsylvania.
Stay tuned to AccuWeather for continuous updates on the severe weather.