Severe storms to disrupt travel in midwestern US through midweek

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

July 11,2016; 10:53AM,EDT

 

 

Locally severe storms will progress slowly southeastward across the midwestern United States through the middle of the week.
The storms will have the potential to hit some communities hard with property damage and travel disruptions from the Great Lakes to the central Plains during Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The greatest concern with the storms through Wednesday will be for damaging wind gusts and large hail," according to AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos.
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Some of the storms could down tree limbs, cause sporadic power outages and minor property damage.
"This is the type of situation where significant airline delays can occur as storms approach major airports, such as O'Hare in Chicago," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
Thunderstorms can produce conditions ranging from poor visibility to strong turbulence and sudden wind shear. Arriving flights may be more spaced out or even suspended during such conditions.
Downpours during some of the thunderstorms can be heavy enough to cause flash flooding in some neighborhoods and cause sudden low visibility for motorists.
The storms on Tuesday will extend from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to western Iowa.

During the day Tuesday, the potential for severe thunderstorms will exist in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Des Moines, Iowa.
During Tuesday night, the threat for severe storms will extend to Saginaw, Michigan, Milwaukee and Chicago.
A broad area of heavy to locally severe storms will extend from southwestern Ontario to central Kansas on Wednesday.

Once again on Wednesday, Chicago and Milwaukee could be affected by the storms. Other cities that could be hit by a disruptive storm or two Wednesday include Detroit; Peoria, Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Toledo, Ohio.
"In addition to the risk of damaging wind gusts, hail and flash flooding, a couple of the strongest storms could produce a brief tornado," Avalos said.
The storms will be at their peak during the late afternoon and early evening hours, when the greatest risk for a tornado will exist. However, some storms will remain locally heavy and gusty into the overnight and early morning hours.
Some people may be awakened by the sound of crashing thunder and the roar of pounding rain in the middle of the night.
While the storms will affect hundreds of square miles, some communities in need of rain may be missed by the storms.