Dynamic Storm to Drench Northwest, Rattle Midwest With Severe Weather

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

September 4,2015; 10:42PM,EDT

 

 

Strong thunderstorms will roll across the Upper Midwest while rain and strong winds roar through the Northwest this weekend.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve Travis, "A storm system will track from the Rockies to the northern Plains through the weekend and support a stormy weather pattern across the Upper Midwest and Northwest.
Anyone traveling across these areas this weekend should be alert for dangerous traveling conditions at times and use ​AccuWeather Minutecast® to keep up-to-date with changing weather conditions across your area.

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Weather delays will be expected across parts of interstates 15, 29, 35, 80, 90 and 94 through the weekend.
JUMP TO: Strong Storms to Spread Across the Upper Midwest | Rain, Wind to Roar Across the Northwest
Strong Storms to Spread Across the Upper Midwest
On the warm, humid side of this storm system, conditions will be favorable for strong thunderstorms to develop this weekend.
"Plenty of warm and humid air will move into the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin over the coming days which will help to fuel these storms," Travis said.
The main threats with these storms will be strong winds and torrential downpours. Some hail is also possible in the strongest storms.
The heaviest storms could lead to local flash flooding.
"There is the potential for isolated power outages due to downed trees and power lines," Travis added.
Cities at risk for strong thunderstorms on Saturday include Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota; Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Alexandria and Bemidji, Minnesota; and Norfolk, Nebraska.

This activity will shift eastward on Sunday and produce strong thunderstorms from northern Missouri to southern Ontario.
Cities at risk for a strong thunderstorm on Sunday include Duluth and Minneapolis, Minnesota; Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin; Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Maryville, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
If you see lightning or hear thunder in the distance, seek shelter immediately. Lightning bolts can reach out several miles outside of a thunderstorm.
Much cooler air will build across the Upper Midwest to start next week. Widespread high temperatures in the 80s and 90s F this week will be replaced with 60s and 70s F next week.
A storm system may develop across the central Plains early next week and bring another round of storms from the central Plains to the Upper Great Lakes.
Rain, Wind to Roar Across the Northwest
On the cool side of this storm system, a soaking rain will fall across parts of the Northwest this weekend.

Very warm conditions across the northern Rockies earlier this week will be erased by below-normal temperatures through the weekend.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson, "Billings, Montana, reached 95 degrees F on Tuesday. By the weekend, high temperatures will struggle to reach the middle 60s, with overnight lows in the 40s."
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Rain will put a damper on any holiday activities this weekend across Billings and Great Falls, Montana; Spokane, Washington; Boise Idaho; and La Grande, Oregon.
This rain could bring major relief to the wildfires that continue to burn from eastern Washington to western Montana.
"Snow could mix in across the higher terrain across the northern Rockies as temperatures fall at or below freezing on Saturday night," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Edward Vallee.
The worst of the rain will occur on Saturday as the storm system moves into southern Manitoba on Sunday. Showers will remain across parts of Montana on Sunday.
While wet weather will be limited on Sunday, strong winds will pick up across the Intermountain West.
"Winds could gust over 60 mph across the Intermountain West on Sunday," Vallee said.
Strong winds could easily knock down trees due to saturated soil from the heavy rain.
For any wildfires that are not contained by this weekend, these strong winds could cause these wildfires to spread rapidly.
No significant weather systems will move through the Northwest next week. Temperatures, however, will remain seasonable across the area.