Severe storms, tornadoes to eye central US on Wednesday

By Andy Mussoline, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

May 9,2016; 10:20PM,EDT

 

 

A severe thunderstorm threat, including tornadoes, will reemerge across the Midwest and Plains on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning will begin rather quiet across the region, but spotty showers or non-severe thunderstorms will be crossing parts of Nebraska and Kansas. However, the atmosphere will then turn volatile Wednesday afternoon from Illinois and Missouri southwest into Oklahoma and Texas.
"We expect several tornadoes, flash flooding, large hail, and damaging winds across the region," AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Lead Meteorologist Eddie Walker said.

St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; Peoria, Illinois; and Fayetteville, Arkansas; are among the cities at risk.
Although tornadoes will be possible Wednesday, the threat will exist over a smaller area than the overall severe thunderstorm risk.
"The tornado threat looks to be greatest across northern Missouri and far-western Illinois," Walker said. "This higher threat area should be north of St. Louis."
A new storm will shift from the Rockies and team up with abundant warmth and humidity in the region to ignite the dangerous thunderstorms.
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The threat for stronger thunderstorms will extend southward into northern Texas along the storm's cold front, including Dallas. However, incidents of damaging winds and hail are forecast to be more sporadic farther south.
Residents and travelers in the region should pay close attention to severe weather warnings. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately.
The severe threat will linger into Wednesday evening, but gradually taper off later Wednesday night.

"Much of the energy necessary for stronger storms will lose steam Wednesday night into Thursday morning," Walker said.
Thunderstorms will advance into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Thursday, along with the Gulf Coast states. However, the threat for severe weather will become more isolated.
Mainly dry weather will settle into much of the Plains and Midwest on Thursday after the recent uptick in severe weather.