Severe Weather Alert: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Hail Expected in the Plains
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for severe weather in the Plains starting on Monday and moving across parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, the South, and the Midwest. Thunderstorms, damaging winds, and large hail are expected to hit the region, with the potential for tornadoes as well.
Meteorologist Marc Chenard from the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md., highlighted that large hail is the biggest threat from the storms. The Weather Service has cautioned that the storms could produce baseball-size hail and winds reaching speeds of 60 to 80 miles per hour.
“There will be some areas of heavy rain as well, which could lead to localized flash flooding,” Mr. Chenard added.
The highest risk for severe weather is forecasted from northern Texas to western Oklahoma and parts of Nebraska and Kansas. One area under an enhanced risk covers a population of over 1.5 million people, including cities like Lincoln, Neb., Manhattan, Kan., and Grand Island, Neb. Additionally, a larger area of the Plains is under a slight risk for severe weather, affecting millions of other individuals.
On Tuesday, the storms are expected to move across the eastern part of the Plains into the central states, posing a risk from Northeast Texas into Iowa and Illinois. Multiple rounds of severe storms are anticipated during the day in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.
Mr. Chenard emphasized that tornadoes are possible on both Monday and Tuesday, with a slightly higher risk on Tuesday from northern Missouri into central Iowa. As the storms hit the central states, hot, dry, and windy weather is also expected, putting Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas at high risk of wildfires.
Over 1.7 million people are in an area deemed at “critical” risk of wildfires on Monday, including residents in El Paso and Las Cruces, N.M. Stay tuned to local weather updates and take necessary precautions to stay safe during this severe weather event.
