Midwest Braces for More Severe Weather and Flooding Beginning on Thursday
Christy Bowen
2 hours agoThe Midwest is bracing for another round of severe storms packing the threat of flooding rain. The action will fire up on Thursday, continuing the volatile weather pattern that has roared over the region in the last few weeks. Here is a closer look at the timing and likely areas of impact for this latest weather maker.
Renewed Threat of Storms for the Ohio Valley and Beyond
A fresh wave of severe storms will target the Ohio Valley beginning on Thursday. The storms will be capable of producing destructive winds and heavy rain in a zone from Indiana into western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The activity is forecast to persist into Friday.
The late-week severe weather threat is coming on the heels of a line of storms that produced over 100 hail and strong wind reports across much of the same area on Sunday. This event brought hail the size of golf balls and winds that hit speeds of nearly 70 mph.
The upcoming risk of severe weather will be fueled by a powerful storm set to roar across the northern U.S. as the work week comes to a close. The energy from this storm will pair with a surge of warm air moving from the Ohio Valley to the central Appalachians and the coastal portions of the Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday.
After a brief cooldown to start the week, temperatures will climb 15 to 30 degrees above what was notched on Monday and Tuesday. However, the warmth on Wednesday and Thursday will not last for long. The forecast models are signaling that another cold front will support the development of severe weather late Thursday in a swath of land from Missouri to Ohio. Other areas in the line of fire for storms include much of Illinois, Indiana, southern Michigan, the northern edge of Kentucky, and the northwestern corner of West Virginia.
Meteorologists are warning that Thursday's storms could unleash damaging winds and hail. Winds gusting to as high as 85 mph are possible. There is also the threat of isolated tornadoes within the strongest storm cells.