Central Plains: Afternoon, evening severe storms brewing

The choo-choo train of storms continues to move across the U. S. Second up (first was Wednesday’s severe storms) is severe weather threatening parts of the Central Plains on Wednesday.

Severe storms will be possible on Thursday afternoon into the evening hours across north-central Oklahoma, central Kansas, eastern Nebraska, southern Iowa, and northern Missouri. Residents and visitors in Wichita, Topeka, and Salina, Ks., should pay close attention to isolated to scattered storms developing damaging winds, hail, and the chance for a tornado or two.

Make sure to have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts and stay aware that severe weather will continue to threaten, with a higher chance on Friday afternoon into the evening. This would be the third consecutive day with severe storms across the Central Plains, which will expand from the Midwest southward to the Texas Panhandle.

The high pressure will pump moisture and heat over the Central Plains, while the storms will push in drier and cooler air. The chance for severe storms will increase in areas where these two different air masses collide.

On Thursday, a stronger low-pressure system exits the Rockies and the chance for isolated to scattered severe storms will be mainly focused over Kansas. Some isolated severe storms could affect southern Nebraska through northwestern Missouri and northern Oklahoma. The threat will also become heightened during the late afternoon into the evening hours once enough heat is gained by the atmosphere and more instability is present.

The strongest storm arrives in the Central Plains on Friday. A system that will bring messy weather to the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, varying from strong winds, and mixed precipitation to snow across the highest mountains, will cross the Rockies and bring the threat of isolated to scattered severe storms over a much larger area of the Central Plains. Residents from the Texas Panhandle northward to South Dakota to Minnesota and western Iowa should remain vigilant throughout the afternoon and evening hours, as storms will pick up in intensity.

Lubbock, Tx., Lincoln Ne., to Sioux Fall S.D., and Sioux City, Ia., could experience late afternoon and evening storms, producing damaging winds, hail, and a couple of tornadoes.

We will be closely monitoring this series of storms throughout the week and keep you updated with any changes to the timing or forecast. Make sure to have notifications turned on your phone and on our app to get alerted as soon as a warning is issued.

As strong high pressure sets up camp over the western U.S. we do not expect these storms to move past the Ohio River Valley. Most of the storms will be pushing northward passing over the Great Lakes area through the end of the week, as they lose the potential for severe weather.