Midweek Severe Storms, Tornadoes to Strike Central US

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

April 7,2015; 11:53AM,EDT

 

 

The worst severe weather outbreak so far this year will threaten lives and property across the central U.S. and include a risk of tornadoes on Wednesday. The severe weather risk will continue on Thursday.
A "potentially volatile" event is shaping up for the middle of this week, according to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Becky Elliott.
This includes a round of isolated severe thunderstorms into Tuesday evening which will affect parts of the Ohio and middle Mississippi valleys and the Plains.
Lives and property will be threatened as this outbreak begins to produce destructive tornadoes and numerous thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail, blinding downpours and frequent lightning during Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the greatest risk for severe thunderstorms will extend northward from central Oklahoma to the eastern half of Kansas and the northwestern half of Missouri and includes part of southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska and north-central Texas.
The most likely time for the most violent storms is between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. CDT, on Wednesday and includes an elevated risk of severe weather.
AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Meteorologist Alex Avalos stated that all the ingredients will be in place on Wednesday for "supercells capable of [producing] very large hail, damaging winds and even tornadoes across the eastern half of Kansas and into much of central Oklahoma."
The storms on Wednesday could produce a few tornadoes that are on the ground for a considerable amount of time. Tornadoes of this nature can be especially strong and destructive.
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"Metropolitan areas such as Wichita and Topeka, Kansas, and Oklahoma City are especially at risk late Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening," Avalos continued.
Thursday's threat zone will encompass the corridor from northeastern Texas and northern Louisiana to Iowa and Illinois.

The violent storms on Thursday could affect the St. Louis; Chicago; Dallas; Memphis, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Little Rock, Arkansas; metro areas.
"I think the threat transitions more to a wind damage threat on Thursday, although large hail and a few tornadoes will still be possible," Avalos said.
Some communities, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Columbia, Joplin and Springfield, Missouri, could face severe weather each day through Thursday.
All residents across the central U.S. should continue to check back with AccuWeather.com for the latest updates to prepare for what is sure to become a dangerous situation on Wednesday and Thursday.
Now is the time for residents and motorists planning to travel in the threat zone to review tornado safety tips and the difference between tornado/severe thunderstorm watches and warnings.
North of the severe weather outbreak, the storm system will be responsible for unleashing a soaking rain.

Within this rain area, there could be isolated incidents of flash flooding or where streams top their banks.
Valentine, Nebraska, and Watertown and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are among the communities that will receive a thorough soaking before the storm tracks eastward and ends the week on a wet note across the East.
As the rain pushes east from the northern Plains, it is not out of the question that it mixes with or changes to snow near Lake Superior Thursday night.
The widespread severe weather outbreak will target the central U.S. through Thursday as the storm system set to return rain and mountain snow to California early this week emerges from the Rockies.
AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed content to this story.