WeatherFanatics: Weekend Storms to Rattle Midwest, Mid-Atlantic

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Weekend Storms to Rattle Midwest, Mid-Atlantic

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

July 26,2014; 6:20PM,EDT

Stormy weather will be the theme for the weekend across the Midwest and Ohio Valley with several chances for severe thunderstorms.
People planning to spend time outside will have to dodge showers and thunderstorms both Saturday and Sunday with some of the stronger storms whipping up gusty winds, hail and frequent lightning.
Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Pittsburgh are some of the cities that can expect the unsettled weather for the last weekend of July.
Showers and thunderstorms will be spread across much of the Great Lakes by Saturday and are forecast to advance into the mid-Atlantic during the afternoon.
Although some of the storms during the day can bring torrential downpours, the higher risk for severe will arrive Saturday night.

There are indications that thunderstorms on Saturday night may try to organize themselves into a complex of storms that tracks across the lower Midwest and towards the Virginias.
If this type of severe weather event unfolds, the greatest risk will be wind gusts past 70 mph, and torrential downpours.
Winds this strong can bring down trees and power lines which translates to the possibility of power outages.
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The threat for severe thunderstorms will increase heading into Sunday with storms during the afternoon and overnight hours becoming more violent than those on Saturday.
In addition to the damaging wind gusts, large hail and even a few tornadoes will be possible with Sunday's storms with the area at most risk of severe weather focusing on southeast Ohio, eastern Kansas and much of West Virginia.
Some storms will even reach the I-95 corridor by Sunday night, threatening Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Severe or not, any thunderstorm that develops will be accompanied by lightning which can in turn bring danger to those in the outdoors.
Keep in mind that open areas such as golf courses or ball parks leave you most vulnerable to being struck by lightning.
If you can hear thunder or see the lightning, you should take shelter until the storm has passed.

Looking ahead to the beginning of next week, showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast for much of the Northeast while drier conditions slowly return to the Midwest.

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