Threat of Severe Thunderstorms Returns to Plains, Midwest Early Week

Linda Lam
Published: April 7,2017
A new storm system will help to instigate the formation of severe thunderstorms early week, this time in the Plains and Midwest. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, isolated tornadoes and heavy rainfall are all concerns with this next round of storms.
Severe weather typically begins to ramp up in April and this year an outbreak of severe weather has already impacted part of the South and mid-Atlantic and the next chance for severe storms is on its way.
(MORE: Early April Severe Weather Outbreak Recap)
This next round of storms will be courtesy of the powerful low pressure system that is currently moving into the West. This area of low pressure is expected to push into the central U.S. Sunday.
Warmer temperatures, along with an increase in moisture, ahead of this system will help to set the stage for the risk of severe thunderstorms early next week.

Setup for severe storms on Sunday.

The cold front and dryline associated with this system will help to initiate thunderstorm development Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. There will likely be enough instability to allow severe thunderstorms to develop by Sunday evening.
(MORE: April's Tornadic, Dangerous Reputation)
A few thunderstorms may also develop farther north, near the warm front in the Great Lakes region.
This low pressure system will continue to press eastward into midweek, bringing showers and thunderstorms into parts of the East into Wednesday.

Forecast Details

A few severe thunderstorms may develop during the day on Sunday, especially from southern Minnesota into southern Wisconsin, Iowa and southeastern South Dakota. The primary threat with these storms will be large hail and damaging wind gusts.
Sunday Night

• The threat of severe thunderstorms will increase Sunday night as the cold front pushes through the Plains toward the mid-Mississippi Valley.
• The highest risk of severe thunderstorms will be found from Iowa into western Missouri, southeastern Kansas, Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
• Damaging wind gusts, large hail and isolated tornadoes are all possible.
• FORECAST: Oklahoma City | Kansas City, Missouri | Des Moines

Sunday Night's Thunderstorm Forecast

Monday

• The cold front will continue sliding east, stretching from the Great Lakes into Texas. This will result in the chance for severe thunderstorms in two areas.
• One area will be from central Texas into northeastern Texas, while the other area will be located toward southeastern Missouri northeastward into Lower Michigan.
• The primary threats will be damaging wind gusts, large hail and an isolated tornado. Locally heavy rain will also be a concern in Texas.
• FORECAST: San Antonio, Texas | Dallas | Chicago | Indianapolis | Detroit

Monday's Thunderstorm Forecast

A few isolated severe thunderstorms may push into the interior Northeast on Tuesday, with the risk of damaging wind gusts and hail. Parts of eastern and southern Texas into western Louisiana could also see a few strong to severe storms, along with locally heavy rainfall.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
The cold front is expected to become stationary over Texas early week and combined with abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico could result in flooding. Much of central and northeastern Texas is currently expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rainfall through Tuesday, with locally higher amounts that could bring the threat of flash flooding.
Be sure to check back to weather.com for forecast updates as we get closer to this next severe weather threat.

MORE: Severe Weather Outbreak Early April (PHOTOS)

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