Severe Storms Take Aim at Midwest Thursday, Spread East Through Saturday

Brian Donegan
Published: August 4,2016
Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds will take aim at parts of the Midwest on Thursday. A few severe storms may also develop Friday in the Great Lakes, and then Saturday in the Northeast.
On Wednesday, there were reports of a tornado on the ground in far northern North Dakota, near Agate. Some damage to farm buildings was reported in the area. More reports of tornadoes came in later Wednesday evening from Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Thursday morning the storms produced a 67 mph wind gust in Duluth, Minnesota.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Below is our latest forecast on the timing and magnitude of the severe threats through the end of this week.

Severe Weather Forecast

Thursday

• Forecast: Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday across parts of eastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and northern Iowa.
• Threats: Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary threats.
• Cities: Minneapolis | Duluth, Minnesota | Wausau, Wisconsin

Thursday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Friday

• Forecast: A few severe storms are possible Friday across the Great Lakes region, including northeastern Indiana, eastern Michigan, northern Ohio and far northwestern Pennsylvania.
• Threats: Damaging winds and large hail possible.
• Cities: Detroit | Cleveland | Erie, Pennsylvania

Friday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Saturday

• Forecast: Once again, a few severe storms may develop ahead of the cold front. Saturday's threat will be in the Northeast.
• Threats: Damaging winds and large hail possible.
• Cities: Boston | New York | Portland, Maine

Saturday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Severe Weather Setup

A disturbance in the upper atmosphere will ride eastward along the jet stream during the second half of this week. Meanwhile, a cold front at the surface will interact with this disturbance, and thunderstorms will form ahead of the cold front.

Where the upper disturbance and cold front position themselves each day will be the area to watch for the development of severe thunderstorms.
A widespread area of severe weather is unexpected, but scattered activity is likely to develop ahead of the cold front where a warm, humid air mass will be in place.

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PHOTOS: Plains, Midwest Mid-June 2016 Severe Weather and Flooding