New Surge of Severe Weather Headed for the Central U.S.

It is setting up to be a wild Wednesday across the central U.S. with the threat of severe thunderstorms, blizzard conditions, and high winds. Here is a look at what this part of the country needs to be aware of for the last day of the astronomical winter.

Major Storm Brewing for Central U.S.

Almost 250,000 square miles of the nation's heartland will be under the gun for severe weather through the day Wednesday and into the overnight hours. The potential zone of impact encompasses about 90 million residents across major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, and Detroit. The severe storms are part of the same weather maker that is ushering in blizzard conditions to the north and dangerous winds to the south.

It is understandable if residents in this area are on edge. Last weekend's storm event killed over 40 people, serving as a reminder of how deadly spring storms can become in an instant. The numbers from the prior storm system continue to climb this week as surveyors get out and assess the damage. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), there were over 140 reports of tornadoes as well as more than 1,100 severe weather incidents spread over the three-day outbreak.

The good news is that this midweek storm system is not expected to produce the same degree of impact, both in numbers and in intensity. However, there is still a moderate risk of storms for a large part of Illinois, Indiana, and beyond. The latest forecast models indicate that the highest threat of tornadic activity will be between interstates 80 and 90 on Wednesday evening.

What to Expect Throughout the Region