Storms, damaging winds to target Chicago and Indianapolis late Tuesday to Wednesday

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

March 15,2016; 10:45PM,EDT

 

 

Severe thunderstorms will erupt across the midwestern United States intoTuesday night, ahead of heavy snow over the northern Plains.
The ingredients are coming together for a round of potent storms across parts of the region, including in Chicago and Indianapolis.
Heavy and gusty thunderstorms to strike Midwest Tuesday evening

More strong storms target the Midwest

A storm system tracking across the Plains will trigger the severe storms, AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliot said.
"Damaging winds and large hail will be the biggest threats with these storms," she said.

Wind gusts will be strong enough to bring down trees and wires. Lightweight items, such as trash cans will be tossed around by the wind.
"A few of the strongest storms can produce a tornado," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity said.
Motorists making the commute home in portions of eastern Iowa, northeastern Missouri and western Illinois may face the worst of the storms into early Tuesday evening.
In Chicago, the timing will set the weather up to create blinding downpours and gusty winds, making for hazardous travel Tuesday evening. The worst of the storms may hold off until many people have made the trip home from work and school.
The storms will push farther east into Indiana and southwestern Michigan during Tuesday night.
The storms may disrupt primary election activities in Illinois and Missouri on Tuesday due to rain and thunderstorms.
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Heavy rain will also extend northward and eastward affecting Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario on Tuesday night.
High winds on Wednesday could cause power outages
Despite thunderstorms coming to an end by Wednesday, strong winds in the absence of thunderstorms will erupt over the Plains Tuesday night and sweep eastward over a large part of the Midwest on Wednesday.

Gusts topping 50 mph could cause large tree limbs to break and result in sporadic power outages.
The winds can also be strong enough to cause airline delays and difficulties for high-profile vehicles.
Chilly air and wet snow to return across the northern Plains
Severe storms will be replaced with chilly air and wet snow for the second half of the week in the Plains.
The recent springlike warmth will be put to an end during the second half of this week for much of the north-central U.S. as colder air is pulled southward from Canada.
Highs in the 50s and 60s will be replaced with high temperatures only in the 30s and 40s for Thursday and Friday across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa. Temperatures at night will drop back down into the 20s and 30s.
Factoring in a brisk northerly wind, AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will be much lower across this area.
"This slow-moving storm will bring a prolonged period of snow to the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin beginning Wednesday," Elliott said.

Parts of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin could receive nearly a foot of snow by Thursday morning.
Visibility could be low at times. Motorists should be on alert for wet roadways that quickly turn icy or snow-covered.
Snow could be heavy enough to pull down trees and power lines in some locations.
This storm system will help bring a pattern change to much of the central United States that will feature a stretch of cooler days lasting through the first week of spring.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.