Forecasters Warn of Tornado Outbreak Looming for Central U.S. on Tuesday

Meteorologists are warning that the forecast models are indicating that Tuesday is likely to bring dozens of tornadoes, kicking off another period of active weather for much of the central U.S. Here is what you need to know about this impending weather situation and how it may impact outdoor plans in the days leading up to the Memorial Day weekend.

Clash of Two Weather Patterns Will Fuel Early Week Storms

All of the ingredients are coming together to fuel a tornado outbreak on Tuesday along with the potential of hail, locally heavy downpours, and strong winds. A surge of energy circulating in the upper levels of the atmosphere will fuel this outbreak of severe weather across much of the central and eastern portions of the country this week. The energy will eject out of the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday and merge with a mass of humid air that is making its way up from the Gulf of Mexico.

The result of the clash of these two competing weather patterns will be the development of strong thunderstorms across the Plains states during the first few days of the week. The first storm will move to the east from eastern Colorado into Nebraska and the Great Lakes through Monday night. Heavy rain will form along this frontal boundary, triggering the risk of flash flooding.