Texas to Kansas prepares for severe storms Monday, Tuesday

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

March 6,2016; 11:35PM,EST

 

 

An emerging storm from the west could spell severe weather across the south-central United States Monday into Tuesday.
A storm system moving into the center of the country on Monday will help to ignite some severe thunderstorms from Oklahoma and Kansas to west-central Texas by Monday afternoon. An isolated severe thunderstorm will also extend northward into central Nebraska.

South Central Short-Range Regional Weather Forecast

The above-average temperatures and sunshine that held over the center of the country over the weekend will be replaced with this turbulent weather.
The humid air coming out of the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the storm will clash with drier air from the Desert Southwest to fire spotty thunderstorms late in the day on Monday.
"Severe thunderstorms that ignite during the afternoon from west-central Texas to central Kansas and central Nebraska will tend to be spotty in nature," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

"There will likely be more numerous severe thunderstorms that develop Monday night in West Texas, east of Midland. These thunderstorms should evolve into a cluster of heavy rain that will target north-central Texas later at night," Pydynowski added.
The strongest thunderstorms, regardless of coverage area, in the south-central states have the potential to produce damaging winds and large hail. This includes the communities of Russell, Kansas; Lawton, Oklahoma; and Wichita Falls and San Angelo, Texas. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.
"Thunderstorms will rattle Oklahoma City and Wichita at this time, but the severe threat should remain west of these cities," Pydynowski said.
"Following the potential for severe weather into Monday night, the risk of severe thunderstorms may expand into more of southern and eastern Texas on Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliott said.
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On Tuesday, the storm will continue to draw tropical moisture from the Gulf, before stalling over the lower Mississippi River Valley. Before the storm reaches the lower Mississippi Valley, additional severe weather will be triggered across the South Central states.
Severe thunderstorms will erupt Tuesday afternoon from eastern Oklahoma to eastern Texas and neighboring parts of Arkansas and Louisiana. In the evening, a separate zone of violent thunderstorms will fire up in southern Texas starting Tuesday evening.
Cities at risk for these rounds of severe weather include Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Houston and San Antonio, Texas.

Flooding downpours, damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes will be produced. The severe thunderstorms will evolve into a more widespread heavy rain threat that could lead to major flooding from eastern Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley.
Into the end of the week, eastern Texas and Louisiana to Missouri could have persistent heavy rain, totaling more than half a foot.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.