Severe Thunderstorms With Damaging Winds, Hail, a Few Tornadoes to Persist in Plains, Midwest Through Friday

Chris Dolce
Published: June 28,2017
Severe thunderstorms will continue to ravage parts of the Midwest the next several days following Tuesday evening's destructive winds and hail in the nation's breadbasket.
Two people were injured in storms on Wednesday in Iowa and Wisconsin.
(MORE: Tornado Central)

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings.

Storm Reports From Wednesday

Wisconsin
Significant house damage was reported after a tornado touched down around 4:45 PM CDT near Spring Valley, Wisconsin. At least one injury was reported on a farm in Martell. Multiple trees and powerlines were reported to be downed and two barns were destroyed.
The damage started near Martell, Wisconsin, and the likely tornado cut a 10-mile path through the western portion of the state.
An 80 mph wind gust was reported as the same line of storms pushed southeastward through Montfort, Wisconsin. Farm outbuildings were reportedly damaged in Livingston, Wisconsin from these severe winds.
Farther south, near Madison, Wisconsin, a possible tornado snapped power poles and caused damage to roofs near Monticello, Wisconsin Wednesday evening. Minor flooding was also reported in Madison.
Iowa
A tornado likely hit the town of Prairieburg, Iowa according to the Prairieburg Fire Department. Early damage tolls include one injury in the town and damage to houses, grain bins and garages. Semis were also flipped over.
The tornado continued northeastward into far east Iowa south of Dubuque.
A tornado was reported just before 4 PM CDT near Shenandoah, Iowa by storm spotters. Hail as large as baseballs also fell elsewhere in Page County.
At least three other tornadoes touched down in Iowa, near the town of Stuart, which is southwest of Des Moines.
Another tornado kicked up debris south of Pleasantville and was sighted by spotters in the area, which is south-southeast of Des Moines.
A tornado near Bedford, Iowa touched down just after the 5 PM hour. Baseball-sized hail associated with the tornadic supercell was reported.
Hail as large as golf balls fell near Fort Dodge in central Iowa according to NWS Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon.
Illinois
Roads were flooded Wednesday evening by heavy rains that trained across northern Illinois including in Rockford and Waukegan. A flash flood emergency was declared late Wednesday for Winnebago and Boone counties following multiple cars being flooded out. Kent Creek has breached its banks.
More than three inches of rain fell in the northern tier of counties in Illinois according to radar estimates.
Spotty reports of trees and powerlines being downed came in from Lake County, Illinois mainly north of Waukegan.
Gusts greater than 60 mph were reported in Winnebago. A cemented flag pole was bent over in Machesney Park by severe gusts.
Missouri
In northern Missouri, flash flooding was the biggest concern as storms ran over the same areas multiple times, but at least one possible tornado was reported. A barn was destroyed near Princeton, Missouri.

Setup and Forecast

The severe threat will persist the next several days thanks to a parade of upper-level disturbances overtopping an increasingly warm and humid air mass.
(MAPS: Current Temperatures | Current Dew Points)
Along with the severe weather threat, repeated rounds of thunderstorms over the next several days eventually could trigger local flash flooding in parts of the central Plains and Upper Midwest.
(INTERACTIVE: See Your 7-Day Severe Weather Outlook)
Here's a look at the forecast details.
Thursday

• Severe storms are expected from the central Plains eastward through the Midwest and into the interior Northeast.
• Clusters of storms may persist into the nighttime/overnight hours, especially from the central Plains to the Upper Midwest. 
• Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats, especially from Kansas and Nebraska eastward to Missouri. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out. 
• Cities: Omaha, Nebraska | Kansas City | Indianapolis | Cleveland | Syracuse

Thursday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Friday

• Severe storms are possible from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley, Ozarks, and southern Plains.
• Once again, clusters of storms may persist into the nighttime/overnight hours in some of these areas.
• Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats, but, again, a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. 
• Cities: Detroit | Indianapolis | Tulsa

Friday's Thunderstorm Outlook

Saturday

•  A few marginally severe thunderstorms will be possible from the eastern Ohio Valley northward into the interior northeast.
• The main threat appears to be from damaging winds, but details will need to be worked out in the upcoming days on specific threats.
• Cities: Columbus, Ohio | Buffalo, New York | Pittsburgh | Burlington, Vermont

Saturday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Flash Flood Threat

• The main threat of localized flash flooding will be with thunderstorm clusters in parts of the Upper Midwest and Plains.
• The ground is most saturated right now in parts of the western Great Lakes. Any additional rainfall through Friday in these areas is likely to quickly trigger flash flooding. Parts of eastern Nebraska have also seen 2-4 inches of rainfall in recent days. Any additional rainfall could trigger localized flooding, but the heaviest rain should fall east of there. 
• While the ground is not as saturated, the heaviest rain is possible from eastern Nebraska, to Iowa, extreme northern Missouri, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. Several inches of rain may fall in a short period of time with one or more thunderstorm clusters through Friday.

(MORE: Why Summer's Thunderstorm Clusters are Both Important and Dangerous)

Rainfall Potential Through Friday AM

Storm Reports

Tuesday, June 27
Some of the worst thunderstorm wind damage was reported near the town of Arnold, Nebraska, in the central part of the Cornhusker State. A corrugated steel building was blown apart, an irrigation pivot overturned, and numerous trees were downed.

Local storm reports received by National Weather Service forecast offices from June 27, 2017, in the Plains states.
(NOAA/NWS)

In the western Nebraska town of Scottsbluff, over 1,000 customers lost power and several trees were snapped in half by wind gusts up to 79 mph.
A 92 mph wind gust was reported by a cooperative observer near Callaway, Nebraska, and a 75 mph wind gust was clocked at the airport in Rapid City, South Dakota.
MORE: Tornado Risk By Month

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