Refreshing Change Ahead For Storm-Weary Midwest as Severe Weather Threat Shifts Southeast

Chris Dolce
Published: July 28,2017
A welcome change in the weather pattern will arrive in the storm-weary Midwest late this week as the threat for severe thunderstorms shifts toward the eastern states.
Currently, a low-pressure system is bringing rain and thunderstorms to parts of the Tennessee and Lower Mississippi valleys.

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

Overnight Thursday into Friday morning, flooding was reported in portions of Missouri and Indiana, including in Johnson county in Missouri where numerous roads were closed.
(MAPS: 7-Day U.S. Rainfall Forecasts)

Severe Storms and Rain Shift East

Heat and humidity has surged back into parts of the East ahead of a cold front.
Friday evening, the cold front will sag southward, and the chance of severe thunderstorms will stretch from the Carolinas and eastern Georgia into the mid-Atlantic, with damaging wind gusts the primary concern.

Friday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Localized flash flooding will also be a concern, especially in areas that have been saturated by heavy rain in recent weeks. That said, the overall progressive nature of the front may help to keep rainfall from becoming excessive.
(MORE: Unusual Storm Will Bring Flash Flood Threat To Mid-Atlantic)

A Welcome Change to End July

The front will continue to push farther south and east into this weekend, and that's where the good news comes into play.

A cold front will usher in lower humidity throughout the Midwest and parts of the South and East late week into this weekend.

Lower humidity will engulf the Ohio Valley on Friday, kicking off a stretch of mainly dry weather that will continue through the weekend and possibly into early next week.
Meanwhile, parts of the East and South will see scattered showers and thunderstorms into Saturday. An isolated severe storm cannot be ruled out, and locally heavy rain is also a concern.
The front will likely continue to scour out moisture through late week and this weekend across the East. Decreased humidity levels are also possible across much of the South by late this weekend.
(MORE: 6 Odd Weather Events Happening Now)
Temperatures will be near or below average in the eastern third of the nation into the weekend.
Relatively mild temperatures may continue into the start of August, as well, due to an overall southward dip in the jet stream across the East. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting the highest probability of below-average temperatures to be in parts of the South and Plains in their latest 6- to 10-day outlook which includes the first few days of August.
(MAPS: Forecast Temperatures)

Midweek Storm Reports

On Thursday, strong winds downed power lines and tree limbs in areas just west of Oklahoma City, where a wind gust of 87 mph was reported near Yukon, Oklahoma.
Overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, very heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding in the Kansas City metro area.
(NEWS: Flash Flooding Prompts Water Rescues, Interstate Closure in Kansas City Metro Area)
Numerous water rescues were reported, and Interstate 35 was closed in both directions at Lamar Avenue near Roeland Park, Kansas.
Wednesday evening, heavy rainfall led to a mudslide over a portion of Route 84 just north of Savanna, Illinois, and the area was deemed unsafe, according to law enforcement officials.
Tuesday evening, hail up to golf-ball size was reported in southern portions of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, including Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Golf-ball-sized hail was also reported Tuesday afternoon in Renville, Minnesota, but there were no reports of damage in the area.
A wind gust of 90 mph was reported near Okreek, South Dakota, Tuesday evening, and Thedford, Nebraska, saw a gust of 70 mph.
(MORE: Flash Flooding Swamps Midwest)
MORE: Your Tornado Risk By Month

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