Strong thunderstorms to stretch across central US this week

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

August 23,2016; 10:48PM,EDT

 

 

The return of warmer and more humid air will trigger another round of strong thunderstorms across the central United States this week.
A storm and associated cold front will track across southern Canada and the Central states, which will bring the return of unsettled weather.
"A couple stronger thunderstorms will be possible across parts of the Plains and Midwest into Wednesday as a cold front sweeps across the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve Travis said.
Warmer and more humid conditions will return to the Central states early this week as the storm approaches. Moisture will surge northward form the Gulf of Mexico aiding in the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms will develop from the eastern Dakotas to central Kansas during Tuesday night.
"Flash flooding and locally damaging wind gusts will be the main threats with these storms," Travis said.
Some of the stronger storms could also produce some hail.
Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Omaha, Nebraska, will want to be on the lookout for rapidly changing weather conditions.
A few storms may even reach portions of southern Canada from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
These storms could slow travel on area highways and cause airline delays.
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Drivers are urged to slow down in any heavy downpour to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. Never drive through a flooded roadway.
Where thunderstorms repeat, the potential for flash flooding will be greatest.
The storms will track eastward into parts of Minnesota and Iowa during the nighttime hours, perhaps reaching Minneapolis, Des Moines, Iowa and St. Joseph, Missouri.
The threat will shift farther south and east on Wednesday to parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. This includes the cities of Topeka, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago.

By the end of the week, a cold front will sweep through and bring another shot of cooler and drier air. Thunderstorms will push into the Ohio Valley on Thursday and the Northeast on Friday.