Plains and Midwest Brace for Stubborn Storms for Rest of the Week

A rash of severe storms will continue to menace the central and eastern portions of the U.S. through the end of the week. Here is a more detailed look at what parts of the region should expect to see these storms fire up and when.

Central and Eastern U.S. Remain Under Unsettled Weather Pattern

Several pockets of severe weather are forecast to ignite in the central and eastern parts of the country over the next few days. The line of storms will bring a range of impacts, including the chance of flash flooding, strong winds, and frequent lightning strikes. While some of the storm cells will turn severe, other areas will escape with times of disruptive rain. This is the time of the year when storms are not typically as strong, thanks to less intense sunshine and shorter times of daylight to fuel the activity.

Wednesday's storms roared through the Northeast with gusto, ushering in heavy rain and gusty conditions. Traffic was snarled up and down portions of the busy Interstate 95 corridor just in time for the evening rush hour.

Another zone of storms set up late Wednesday across parts of North Carolina and up into southern Virginia. The Southeast will remain under the gun for flash flooding thanks to the persistent bands of heavy rain that have targeted this corner of the country for the past week.

The northern Plains also experienced stormy weather on Wednesday. The bulk of the impacts were focused on the northern tier of Nebraska and up into South Dakota.

Thursday's Forecast Calling for Widespread Storms Across the Plains and the Midwest

The northern Plains will once again be in the crosshairs of severe storms on Thursday. The greatest activity is forecast to pop up in northeastern South Dakota and up into eastern North Dakota, as well as the central and northwestern portions of Minnesota.

Forecasters are warning that this area could see damaging hail and tornadic activity. As is typical this time of the year, storms may hold off until the temperatures heat up later in the day. It will also be a windy day for places such as Fargo, North Dakota. Winds are forecast to hit speeds of 15 to 25 mph from the south in this part of the northern Plains.

Another zone of storms is in the works for the Southeast and the coastal regions of the Northeast. However, it will be the Southeast that is expecting the highest risk of potentially damaging storms and flash flooding.

Friday's and Saturday's Storms to Roam the Plains and the Midwest

Friday's storms will expand from eastern South Dakota and into central and southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and the western edge of Wisconsin. Similar to Thursday's impacts, residents will need to be prepared for localized hail and strong winds.

Minneapolis will be in store for a rocky stretch of weather as scattered rain showers and thunderstorms move into the Twin Cities during the afternoon hours on Friday. Despite the arrival of the clouds, highs will still manage to sneak into the mid 80s before sliding into the low 70s overnight.

It will be a similar situation on Saturday, with the Dakotas at the heart of the activity again. Saturday's storms will also push farther to the west, reaching as far as eastern Montana. To the east, you can expect the storms to ignite as far as northwestern Wisconsin.

Some communities will see the rain hold off until later in the day on Saturday. For example, Bismarck, North Dakota, will enjoy mostly dry conditions throughout the day with the storms expected to arrive in the evening and overnight hours. Saturday's forecast in Bismarck is calling for a high of about 84 degrees and lows that land in the mid 60s. It will be a breezy start to the weekend, with winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph.

Going back to Minneapolis, the large urban area will be under the threat of widespread storms throughout the day and night on Saturday. The greatest concentration of storms will be during the morning and overnight hours in this part of the Upper Midwest.

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