Watches Issued as Severe Storms Threaten the Plains, Mid-Atlantic Thursday Evening

Brian Donegan
Published: July 28,2016
Strong to severe thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging wind gusts, will threaten portions of the Plains into Thursday evening. Scattered severe storms are also possible in the mid-Atlantic region.
In Phillipsburg, Kansas, Thursday afternoon, county storm spotters reported several trees up to 12 inches in diamater were snapped from the severe thunderstorms, and one business lost part of its roof. Pea-sized hail was also reported.
There were also multiple reports of tree limbs and trees down blocking roads across Arkansas City, Kansas, Thursday afternoon.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following watch areas:

• A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for portions of eastern Maryland, Delaware and southern New Jersey until 12 a.m. EDT.
• A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of southeast West Virginia and southwest Virginia until 10 p.m. EDT. This watch area includes Roanoke, Virginia, and Beckley, West Virginia.
• A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for portions of northern and central Kansas and southern Nebraska until 11 p.m. CDT. This watch area includes Wichita, Kansas.

Additionally, localized flash flooding is a possibility across those regions, as heavy downpours could dump significant amounts of rain over a short amount of time.
(MORE: Heavy Rain, Flash Flooding Possible in the East)

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Below is our latest forecast thinking on the timing and magnitude of the severe threats into Thursday evening.

Severe Weather Forecast

Thursday Evening

• Plains Forecast: Severe thunderstorms could be numerous on Thursday from southeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska southward into Kansas, eastern Colorado and northwest Oklahoma. 
• Mid-Atlantic Forecast: An area of strong to severe storms is possible in Virginia and parts of the Delmarva peninsula and moving into the southern Northeast. Conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
• Threats: Damaging winds and large hail are the largest threats.
• Cities: Denver | Goodland, Kansas | Richmond, Virginia | Philadelphia

Thursday Evening's Thunderstorm Forecast

Thursday Evening's Thunderstorm Forecast

Severe Weather Setup

A series of weak upper-level atmospheric disturbances will move eastward across the Plains and Midwest, and eventually into the East late this week.

Mid- to late-week severe weather setup.

The interaction of the disturbances with a stalled front across those regions will yield thunderstorm activity.
A widespread severe weather outbreak appears unlikely, but there is a decent potential for a few of the storms to reach severe limits. Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary threats with any of the thunderstorms that do turn severe.

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PHOTOS: Plains, Midwest Mid-June 2016 Severe Weather and Flooding