Tuesday Storm Forecast to Bring Powerful Winds to the Central U.S.

Impacts of Potent Strong Winds Today

The winds on Tuesday will push farther to the east as the day progresses, bringing in millions more to the path. Major metropolitan areas such as Denver, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Chicago are expected to see these powerful wind gusts through late Tuesday.

Unlike Monday's wind events that saw winds coming from the same direction, Tuesday's winds may be all over the place thanks to a strengthening storm system bearing down on the region.

For instance, winds along Interstate 25 will be coming from the north. This is good news for motorists as winds of this direction do not pack as much of a risk for high-profile vehicle rollovers.

The winds howling over the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest on Tuesday are forecast to whip around the east and the northeast. Meanwhile, the winds churning across the southern Plains and into the middle Mississippi Valley will be out of the southwest and the west.

Not all of the communities in this impact zone will see rain. Those areas that remain dry will be more vulnerable to the threat of wildfires as a result of the winds. The dry brush covering the land could work as tinder for any spark that spreads.

All it takes is one lightning strike to set off a fire that quickly spreads through the dry vegetation as the winds carry the flames.

The strong winds will also likely pick up dust and dirt from the already dry ground and send it flying.

Specific City Forecasts

Looking at some specific city forecasts for the region, Kansas City is going to wake up to thunderstorms on Tuesday. Although the storms will move out in the afternoon, the winds coming out of the south at 20 to 30 mph will stick around. It will be an unseasonably warm day with a forecast high of about 78 degrees and lows settling in the upper 50s.

Omaha will be under the threat of storms throughout the day and into the evening hours. Like Kansas City, winds will be out of the south at speeds of about 20 to 30 mph. The mercury will hover in the mid 70s for a high with overnight lows plummeting into the upper 40s.

It will be even windier in eastern Colorado, a part of the region known for gusty conditions. Lamar is predicted to see winds out of the northwest at 25 to 40 mph with some gusts hitting 50 mph. Temperatures will bounce around in the mid 70s for a high while lows plummet into the upper 30s.

The Texas Panhandle is not in the storm threat zone but that will not keep the winds away. Amarillo is forecast to be under sunny skies, helping to nudge the temperatures up into the low 80s for a high. Winds will be out of the west at 20 to 30 mph with some gusts inching up over the 40 mph mark.

Moving in the other direction, it will be a miserable day in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities is bracing for rainfall near an inch on Tuesday during the day with another half of inch in store for the overnight hours.

Periods of locally heavy rainfall are possible. As far as the winds, you can expect speeds of 20 to 30 mph. Temperatures that max out in the upper 50s for a high will make for a blustery day.

You will find similar conditions across the northern Plains. For example, Custer, South Dakota is anticipating to barely crack the 50-degree mark for a high temperature reading on Tuesday.

Rain showers early in the day will move out in the afternoon hours but the winds will stick around, coming in from the north-northwest at 20 to 30 mph. It will be a frigid night with lows predicted to tumble into the mid 30s after the sun goes down.