Risk increases & expands: Central Plains, Ozarks storms & flooding

As we discussed this week, the thread for severe storms across the Plains and flood risk continues to be fine-tuned. Starting Thursday evening, over 5 million people are at risk of severe weather, and the risk increases and expands on Friday and into the weekend.

On Monday I wrote about the threat of flooding, mainly for Texas, that would happen by the end of the week and into the weekend. As the forecast becomes clearer the threatened area has expanded and shifted a bit more north. This is something typical that happens in longer-range outlooks, especially with complex systems like the one coming out of the Rockies and several fronts that are slated to stay nearby as they disconnect and connect to lows.

Keep in mind there will be plenty of moisture prepping the atmosphere on Wednesday and the risk of some flooding will be mainly focused from North Texas to western Iowa and over the Ozarks. Central Oklahoma through western Arkansas could start to deal with isolated flooding spots. Meanwhile the threat of flooding increases and expands also over eastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri on Thursday. From Friday through late Sunday, residents across the Central Plains, Ozarks through the Great Lakes should monitor closely the flood threat. Some areas could receive over 7 inches of rain, especially eastern Oklahoma through the Ozarks.

These same systems that will be exiting the Rockies will also bring the threat of severe storms. On Wednesday there is a small area over northwestern Texas through Oklahoma that could be dealing with scattered storms that could produce damaging winds, hail, and the chance for a tornado or two. Meanwhile, on Thursday the threat increases and becomes larger, covering over 5 million people. The largest cities that will have to monitor severe storm threat are Oklahoma City, Wichita Kan., Lubbock, Texas, and Norman, Okla. Very large hail, 75 mph wind gusts, and a couple of strong tornadoes will be possible. The threat of severe storms will continue, shifting a bit east and threatening larger cities and over 20 million people.

Our team of meteorologists will be closely monitoring these systems and their slow movement and will continue to bring you the latest on our app and across our social media platforms. You can track the storms using the WeatherRadar.