Stormy Pattern Will Linger Across the Plains and Beyond
Alexis Thornton
2 months agoIt is setting up to be a rocky few days across the U.S. Plains as storms ignite and spread throughout the region. Here is a look at this wet and windy forecast for the Plains states.
Slow-Moving Storm System Spells Rain and Storms for Portions of the Plains
While the weather pattern for the Plains states is not expected to produce widespread severe weather, residents will want to be aware of the possibility of stormy conditions over the next few days. The most worrisome threats associated with these storms will be the straight-line wind gusts capable of producing property and tree damage. Other impacts include hail and flash flooding concerns.
The risk of tornadoes is relatively low when compared to what storms of this magnitude in the spring would trigger. However, you cannot rule out the chance of isolated tornadic activity.
Thursday's severe weather set up over the High Plains and up into eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. Friday's risks are forecast to shift farther to the east and the north, bringing in the Great Plains region. You can expect storms to fire up across the busy Interstate 25 corridor in Colorado and across Route 83 in southwestern Kansas and to the north into portions of North Dakota.
Some portions of interstates 70, 80, and 90 will also fall under the potential impact zone of Friday's storm activity. This risk will intensify in the late afternoon and evening hours, possibly hanging on even after the sun goes down and the temperatures cool.
For instance, Omaha is forecast to see the rain intensify overnight Friday, ushering in about a half of an inch of rainfall. The rain showers will linger throughout the day Saturday with another quarter of an inch of rain in the forecast. Temperatures will fall sharply on Saturday with a high of just 73 degrees on tap for Omaha while overnight lows will slip into the low 60s.
While it will not be a rainout for western Kansas, towns such as Colby should be prepared for isolated storms or showers. This risk will increase in the evening hours. The forecast is predicting the toasty weather to continue through Saturday for this part of the region with highs in upper 80s and low 90s until the cooldown arrives on Sunday.