Strong Storms to Strike Northern Plains Late Saturday

By Chyna Glenn, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

August 15,2015; 7:10PM,EDT

 

 

The storm system responsible for the heavy and gusty thunderstorms that impacted the northern Rockies late Friday will bring another round of severe weather to the northern Plains to end Saturday.
An area of low pressure will continue to strengthen as it straddles the United States-Canada border during the first half of the weekend bringing unsettled weather with it.
The unsettled weather will be in the form of showers and thunderstorms, developing along a potent cold front that will be slicing south through the northern and central Plains.

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As this cold front approaches the Dakotas, thunderstorms will intensify to severe strength as the day comes to a close. At the same time, an isolated number of severe thunderstorms will develop around Chicago, especially south and west of the city.
"With temperatures and humidity levels ahead of this front being well above normal, the atmosphere will be well primed for strong to severe storms in northern Plains," explained AccuWeather meteorologist Evan Duffey.

Storms will develop into a line bringing damaging winds, heavy rainfall and even an isolated tornado and localized hail.
Bismarck, North Dakota, and the Canadian city of Winnipeg will be the first to be impacted by the severe weather.
"These storms will fire first in central North Dakota to northern South Dakota late Saturday afternoon, then spread eastward during the evening hours," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.
Thunderstorms will not reach Aberdeen, South Dakota, Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, until the evening hours, remaining at severe strength through the first half of the night on Saturday.
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However, behind this potent cold front, calmer, drier and cooler conditions will take the place of the humid and hot weather experienced earlier in the week.
"Much cooler air will build in behind this front on Sunday as daytime highs across the region will be 20 degrees cooler than Saturday," stated Rathbun.
The severe weather will then take aim at the corridor from western Wisconsin to eastern Colorado Sunday afternoon and evening. Cities at risk include Denver; Sioux City, Iowa; and Minneapolis.

A more widespread outbreak of severe weather will follow across the Plains early in the new week.