Severe Weather Threats Linger Across Central U.S. After Wild Weekend

A wild weekend of weather for the central U.S. is going to linger through Election Day. Here is a look back at the severe weather that ripped through the nation's heartland over the weekend as well as how long you can expect the stormy weather pattern to stick around.

Central U.S. Saw Stormy Weekend With More on the Way

The storm machine first fired up across the central U.S. on Friday, bringing confirmed reports of hail and strong winds to parts of West Texas and into New Mexico. The severe weather stretched to the east and the north on Saturday, unleashing across the populated Oklahoma City metro area. A rash of tornadoes popped up near the state capital city with at least 11 injuries reported as a result of the storms.

Another cluster of storms developed in West Texas on Saturday, moving into Oklahoma as the night progressed. The state saw several weather warnings and advisories, including tornado, flash flood, and thunderstorm warnings.

It was also particularly windy on Saturday. A top wind gust of 92 mph was reported in the southeastern corner of New Mexico near the border with Texas. A gust of 75 mph was recorded just to the southeast of Oklahoma City.

The storms lost their punch on Sunday morning as they continued to move to the east, giving residents a brief break from the elements. However, the period of calm did not last for long. Another line of storms formed in central Oklahoma and down into the northern and central portions of Texas later in the day. The storm cells moved into parts of Arkansas and Missouri overnight with some of the strongest storms popping up under the cover of darkness.

Flooding remains a concern in this part of the country. While the rain is certainly good news for the parts of the region dealing with widespread drought, too much rain over a short period of time increases the risk of flooding. A lack of moisture means that the ground has hardened, making it more difficult to absorb water if it comes down too quickly.

Monday Expected to See the Worst of the Severe Weather