Plains Remain Under Threat of Storms Through the Weekend

Severe storms are forecast to roam the Plains states over the next few days. Although most of the activity will be sporadic in nature, that does not mean that severe impacts should be ruled out. Read on for the details of the unsettled forecast.

High Plains Target of Latest Round of Repeated Storms

The highest concentration of stormy activity this weekend will be across the Great Plains. The storms are expected to set up near the boundary between the moisture-rich air to the east and the drier air that is entrenched over the western U.S.

Those with outdoor or travel plans this weekend should take care to stay informed about the fluid weather conditions. This is the time of the year when the weather can change on a dime, particularly in the afternoon and evening hours when the rising temperatures support the development of thunderstorm activity.

The bulk of the storms will churn through rural areas. However, there are some major urban areas that could get in the crosshairs of the action.

It has already been a deadly week for parts of the central U.S. Flash flooding in Texas on Wednesday claimed the lives of five people. Over a month's worth of rain fell in a period of a few hours, sending rivers of water down roads and submerging vehicles in their path. For instance, almost 10 inches of rain fell in San Antonio on Wednesday night and into early Thursday.

Local rescue crews had to rescue about a dozen people from raging floodwaters in San Antonio. The five fatalities were reported in this area.

Another rain gauge in the community of Mico recorded 8.49 inches of rain in 24 hours. This is over double the 3.28 inches that historically falls in this area, about 25 miles northwest of San Antonio, in all of June. Moving closer to the coastline, the city of Victoria reported 9.85 inches of rain on Wednesday night. A gauge measuring rain near Carancahua Bay came in with over 14 inches of rain between Tuesday and Friday.

Officials believe that the Navasota River near Easterly, Texas, will crest at 27.60 feet by the weekend. Should this come to fruition, it would mark the 4th highest crest of all time.

The heavy rain also knocked out power to nearly 75,000 customers in the Lone Star State. That number had dropped to 17,000 on Friday.

What to Expect on Saturday

Friday's threats centered on the central and northern High Plains, stretching from central Montana to the Nebraska Panhandle. This same general area will be the target of Saturday's potential storms. The potential zone of impact of severe weather on Saturday will stretch for almost 1,000 miles from northern Montana and down into the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Forecasters are warning that tornadoes could spin up in Saturday evening's storm cells. Other potential impacts include high winds and large hail.

For instance, the popular tourist destination of Rapid City, South Dakota, is one of the areas that should be aware of the chance of spotty storms beginning Saturday afternoon. The forecast is also calling for highs in the mid 80s, winds out of the east at 10 to 15 mph, and lows that settle at the 60-degree mark.

Isolated thunderstorms are also a possibility as far north as Billings, Montana. The college town will see the chance of storms throughout the afternoon, evening, and overnight hours. Temperatures will top out in the low 80s before sliding into the upper 50s overnight. It will also be a bit breezy with shifting winds clocking in at 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday's Storms Expand to the East

Sunday's stormy weather will push to the east over the northern and central portions of the Plains states. The action of Father's Day is more likely to form a solid line or come together in a larger cluster. Sunday's possible impacts encompass high winds, hail, torrential rain that raises the risk of flash flooding, and isolated tornadic activity.

The repeated rounds of storms are forecast to persist through Wednesday of next week. The primary targets will be across the North Central U.S. during this time period.

The wet and cooler weather will move from the Plains states and into the Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast as the new week progresses. The pattern is more reminiscent of what you generally expect in the spring months rather than during the start of the summer season.

The long-range forecast for the Northeast is calling for high temperatures to remain in the 60s and 70s through Monday. This is about 10 to 15 degrees below the historical average for this corner of the country.

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