Powerhouse Storms, Tornadoes a Threat Wisconsin to Oklahoma

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

October 3,2013; 7:30PM,EDT

 

 

Over the course of late Thursday to Saturday, close to 15 million people in the Central states will be at risk from powerful thunderstorms, including tornadoes.
Warm, tranquil weather over the middle of the nation to start the week will take a dramatic turn for the worse by the week's end.
Thunderstorms late in the week will do more than mark an end to the buildup of warmth and cause travel delays and disruptions to outdoor plans.

@SeverePlains tweeted: "SPC severe weather outlook highlights Friday over #IAwx & surrounding. Dmg winds likely, Tornadoes appear possible." Additional Relevant Tweets and Social Media Reaction

As a powerful storm takes shape over the North Central states, severe thunderstorms may bring a tornado outbreak and strong wind gusts from parts of the Midwest to the southern Plains.
People from the Midwest to the southern Plains should monitor the situation carefully.
The pattern has the potential to bring the first widespread severe weather outbreak of the autumn season and could be the most significant threat to lives and property over the Central states since May.

The first severe weather incidents are likely to develop Thursday just east of a redeveloping storm over the northern Rockies.
Storms Thursday evening brought 1.5 inches of rain to Baraboo, Wis., causing some minor street flooding, according to a 911 call center.
The collision of chilly air arriving from the West with warm, moist air in place over the central United States will really come together Friday into Friday night.
According to AccuWeather.com's Severe Weather Expert Henry Margusity, "Thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and perhaps a couple of tornadoes are possible late Thursday into Thursday night from eastern Nebraska to central Iowa, but the main tornado threat will occur Friday into Friday night."
The setup could yield a tornado outbreak centered over Iowa Friday and expand to parts of southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin late Friday and Friday evening.
RELATED:
Severe Weather Center
First Snowstorm of Season South Dakota to Northern Minnesota
Northwest Storms Shatter Records, Cut Power
The storms could hit some communities as students are heading home from school Friday or partaking in Friday evening sporting activities, such as high school football.
Additional severe storms are likely to continue to ignite farther to the southwest Friday night and race eastward Saturday.

Storms over parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, north-central Texas and northwestern Missouri late Friday into Friday night have the potential to bring damaging wind gusts, hail and perhaps a few tornadoes, Margusity stated.
Cities that are at risk for dangerous weather conditions Friday and/or Friday night include Rochester, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Wichita, Kan.; Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma City; Des Moines, Iowa; and Madison, Wis.
The storms could catch people off guard with rapidly changing weather conditions.
According to AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions' Expert Senior Meteorologist Scott Breit, "Storms over the central and southern Plains are likely to become fast-movers with an elevated risk of high winds."
A strong flow of air around the strengthening storm system will bring the potential for strong wind gusts west of the thunderstorms over the High Plains.

A few gusts could reach 70 mph in open areas from the northern Texas Panhandle and northeastern New Mexico to eastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska Friday and Friday night.
Gusts in many of these locations will range between 40 and 60 mph, which are strong enough to cause sporadic power outages and difficult crosswinds for lightweight and high-profile vehicles.
During Saturday, severe weather will then focus from eastern Wisconsin and the western Lower Peninsula of Michigan to northwestern Indiana, Illinois, southeastern Missouri and Arkansas. The storms could impact additional high school games as well as some college football games.
Thunderstorms with damaging winds and blinding downpours could affect the cities of Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee during part of Saturday.
On the storm's colder side, a blizzard will hit parts of the northern Rockies to the northern Plains into Friday.
Meanwhile, gusty winds will also buffet Southern California Friday into Saturday, raising concerns for wildfires. Tropical Storm Karen is forecast to make landfall over the upper Gulf Coast this weekend, spreading heavy rain and gusty winds through parts of the South.
The storm forecast to bring severe weather and snow to the Central states late this week hammered the Northwest with heavy rain and high winds this past weekend.