Stormy Pattern Not Abating Anytime Soon Across the Central U.S.

It is starting to feel like Groundhog Day for much of the central U.S. as storms continue to train over the region. The back-to-back stormy pattern is forecast to continue through the weekend, ushering in threats of large hail, strong winds, and flash flooding. Here is a more detailed look at the timing of these anticipated severe weather events.

Storm Train to Keep Rolling Through the Nation's Midsection

Thunderstorm activity will persist over the nation's heartland for the next week with the Great Plains seeing the worst of the activity. The parade of storms will eject out of the Rockies and move through the central U.S. through at least Tuesday of next week. The energy coming down from the Rocky Mountains will be amplified by the surge of moisture flowing up from the Gulf, laying the groundwork for storms to take root and intensify.

Residents in this region will want to be aware of likely disruptions to outdoor activities. As is typical with this type of weather pattern, the storms will be the greatest threat in the afternoon and evening hours as the mercury rises. Some storms may linger through the overnight hours and still be roaming during the morning commute.

The High Plains in West Texas and up through western Nebraska saw the wrath of Wednesday's activity. These storm cells pushed to the east throughout the day along U.S. Routes 83 and 183.

Heading into Thursday, the storms are forecast to fire up across parts of U.S. Route 385 in West Texas and to the north in eastern Colorado. Once again, U.S. Routes 83 and 183 across the southern and central Plains will be the epicenter of the activity. Likely impacts include destructive hail, strong winds, and isolated tornadoes. Localized flash flooding will be a concern in zones where the rain also fell on Wednesday.

The Texas Panhandle will be at the heart of Thursday's action. Amarillo is forecast to wake up to dry conditions and partly cloudy skies. However, storms are likely to develop in the afternoon, packing strong winds and small hail. Winds will be out of the southwest at speeds of 15 to 25 mph. It will be a warm day with a forecast high of about 82 degrees and lows that drop into the mid 50s.

The threat of storms will not hit until later in the day in places such as Dodge City, Kansas. This city in the southwestern corner of the Sunflower State is forecast to see cloudy skies throughout the day with storms firing up in the evening hours. The mercury will max out in the low 70s before falling into the upper 40s overnight. It will also be a breezy day with winds out of the south-southeast at 10 to 20 mph.

Looking Ahead to Friday

The focal point of the weather maker will move to the east on Friday. This will give the High Plains a chance to catch its breath as the work week comes to a close. A more widespread disturbance is expected to track across the Midwest, bringing drier air up through the central Plains. The result will be that the lower southern Plains, the middle portions of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, and the Great Lakes region will see the majority of the moisture coming up from the Gulf on this day.

Forecasters are not expecting widespread and long-lasting severe storms at this time. However, some of the strongest cells could produce flooding rainfall, high winds, and hail.

It will be a stormy start to the day in Little Rock. The capital city of Arkansas is expecting scattered thunderstorms early with the clouds remaining throughout the balance of the day. Highs will reach the low 80s with lows forecast to slip to about 63 degrees overnight. A renewed chance of thunderstorm activity will fire up in the evening hours.

The peak of the storm activity will hold off until the afternoon and evening hours in places such as Columbus, Ohio. The mercury will reach about 77 degrees, pairing with winds out of the south-southwest at 10 to 15 mph. Several waves of storms are on tap for the evening hours before the activity settles down.

The line of storms will expand into the central Great Lakes by the afternoon and evening hours on Friday. You can expect these storms to erupt in time for the evening commute in places such as Detroit. The Motor City is predicted to see a high of about 75 degrees and lows that land at about the 50-degree mark after the sun goes down. Winds will be coming from the south at 10 to 15 mph.

Plains State Back Under the Threat of Storms for the Weekend

The bulk of the activity this weekend will once again churn over the Plains states. The most likely impact zone will be from the west-central and northwestern portions of Texas and into western Oklahoma on Saturday. Some areas of western Kansas and eastern Colorado will also be under the gun for these Saturday storms.

For instance, Saturday's forecast is calling for severe storms back in the picture for Lubbock, Texas. The college town will also see gusty winds in some of these cells. General winds will be out of the east at 10 to 20 mph. It will be noticeably cooler on Saturday as the temperatures drop about 10 degrees from Friday's highs to max out at about 70 degrees.

The long-range forecast models are predicting that Sunday's severe weather risk will track farther to the north. This will put areas such as eastern Wyoming, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Minnesota into the fold. Likely impacts include hail, strong winds, and flash flooding triggered by heavy rain.

Another major storm system is lining up to push out of the Rockies early next week. This will support the development of more storms for the central U.S. beginning on Monday. An advancing cold front will move across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest at this time, with the storms forecast to erupt along this boundary. The line of storms will stretch as far south as west-central Texas as the new work week begins.

The front will continue to advance to the east on Tuesday, bringing the potential of stormy conditions to the Plains, the Great Lakes, and across the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. By Wednesday, the threat of severe storms will expand into the Northeast to the east and to the south into the lower Mississippi Valley. Stay tuned as we update this forecast in the days to come.

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