Widespread Severe Weather Threat Bearing Down on Central U.S.

Timing of the Storms in Detail

The first of the storms are expected to erupt on Thursday afternoon as the system pushes into the Plains. The region from northeastern Texas and up through southern Nebraska will be at the mercy of the severe weather initially.

This threat will stick around overnight Thursday as the cells move through the central and southern Plains states.

For instance, Oklahoma City will see rain showers early Thursday that transition to thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, evening, and overnight hours.

Highs will push into the low 80s before falling into the mid 60s after the sun goes down. It will also be windy in the capital city of Oklahoma with winds coming out of the south at speeds of 20 to 30 mph.

The forecast is calling for the storms to become more widespread on Friday. The primary impact zone to close out the work week will be centered on eastern Oklahoma, into northwestern Arkansas, and to the north through western portions of Iowa.

However, this zone can shift in the coming days as the forecast becomes more fine-tuned.

Friday will bring about the greatest risk of tornadic activity. Residents should ensure that they are able to receive weather alerts.

While the forecast can change in the coming hours, there are currently about half of a million square miles of land at risk for Friday's severe weather event. Major cities that need to be ready for storms to strike include Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Dallas.

Areas such as Kansas City will see the winds pick up in strength in the afternoon and evening hours, landing at speeds of 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts possible. Thunderstorms could make for a nasty commute home.

It will be a relatively warm day by April standards with a forecast high of about 75 degrees.

Storms Expected to Linger Into Weather This Weekend

The threat of inclement weather will linger into the weekend, potentially spoiling outdoor plans for millions of Americans. The movement of the first storm system to the north will translate to more energy throughout the Midwest on Saturday with the highest threat of severe impacts across the south-central part of the country.

Once again, much of Oklahoma, north-central Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Arkansas will be in the line of fire for Saturday's stormy conditions.

Meteorologists are cautioning that Saturday's storms may seemingly come out of nowhere after a relatively calm beginning to the day. Metropolitan areas such as Oklahoma City, Wichita, and Kansas City could be dealing with their third consecutive day of storms.

There is also an elevated risk of tornadoes forecast for Saturday in this zone along Interstate 35 from Kansas City down into the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

The impacts of the weather this weekend will track farther east on Sunday. For instance, Chicago is forecast to see significant rain and windy conditions that mar the weekend.

Monday will see the storms inch into the Tennessee Valley. This stormy pattern will likely be an issue once again next week for much of the central U.S. Stay turned as the details of this become more clear in the coming days.

Flash Flooding Risk Elevated

It is not surprising to learn that a multi-day severe weather threat such as this will usher in an elevated risk of flash flooring, particularly for areas that see the rain linger for several days in a row.

The current forecast is calling for a high risk of flooding in an area from central Kansas and across to central Arkansas, also encompassing a large portion of Oklahoma and south-central Missouri.

The greatest chance of flooding will happen late Wednesday through Saturday.

This is also the time of the year that you can expect tornadoes to become a greater threat. As such, this is a good time to review your safety and preparedness plans if you live in an area prone to twisters.