Severe storms, flash flooding to wallop central US into Memorial Day weekend

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

May 26,2016; 8:43PM,EDT

 

 

Severe weather, including the risk of tornadoes and flash flooding, will continue into Memorial Day weekend.
The combination of warm and humid air in place, combined with weak storm systems moving out from the Rockies, will create an environment favorable for thunderstorms and severe weather.
Severe weather on Wednesday focused across the North Central states, highlighted by a large, long-tracked tornado across Kansas.
The latest round of severe weather will ramp up through Thursday evening.

Storms could be more intense and will be more widespread compared to previous evenings this week.
AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Lead Meteorologist Phil Warren is concerned that storms will produce large hail and damaging wind gusts to 70 mph as well as some tornadoes.

"The risk of tornadoes will be present with some of the strongest storms, primarily across portions of Kansas and Nebraska [late Thursday]," Warren explained.
However, the overall risk of isolated tornadoes extends from eastern Colorado to western Iowa southward to central Oklahoma.
Large hail will pose a hazard to cars, windows, crops and livestock.
People should stay alert to weather bulletins and seek shelter indoors, preferably in an interior room, below ground or in a storm shelter.
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Storms can continue into the overnight hours, creating an increased danger.
An additional hazard to the region will be the ongoing threat of flash flooding.
"Flash flooding will also be a major concern in locations that have already received heavy rainfall from thunderstorms earlier this week," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.
Locations where individual storms merge into a larger storm complex will also be at risk for flash flooding.
The severe threat zone will expand slightly eastward, encompassing the Arklatex on Friday. However, the risk of severe storms will also continue over some of the same areas on the Plains hit by storms earlier in the week.

The threat for daily showers and thunderstorms, some turning severe, will continue right through Memorial Day weekend.
On Saturday, the potential for severe thunderstorm on a more localized level will extend from central and coastal Texas to the middle part of the Mississippi Valley.
Rounds of severe weather are likely to continue over the Plains states through much of next week.