Severe Storms, Flash Flooding to Slam the Midwest This Week

Several rounds of thunderstorms will continue to fire up across the Plains, the Midwest, and the eastern U.S. through Thursday. Damaging winds and the threat of flash flooding will be the story for these regions as the storms roll through with frequency. Read on for all of the details.

More Rain and Severe Storms Bearing Down on Central and Eastern U.S.

The rocky weather pattern will persist in a zone from the Plains and into the Midwest, the Appalachians, and over to the Atlantic coastline. Areas that experience repeated waves of rain will see a significant risk of flash flooding.

Severe storms that erupted over the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic on Monday brought down trees and power lines along with the flash flooding issues. There were nearly 500 preliminary severe weather reports notched on Monday across parts of Arizona, the Carolinas, the northern Plains, the Ohio Valley, and the mid-Atlantic.

The worst of the storms on Wednesday are forecast to ignite in the Midwest and to the east as the northeastern flank of the heat dome retreats to the southwest, bringing the storms along with the movement. Forecasters are warning that severe impacts are possible in a zone from eastern Wyoming and into the northern Plains, northeastern Colorado, southern Iowa, and the northern edges of Missouri and Kansas. Gusts of up to 90 mph and large hail are possible with Wednesday's weather maker.

Looking ahead to Thursday, thunderstorms are in the forecast across a swath of land from northeastern Colorado to the east into the Ohio Valley. The threat of flash flooding will intensify in the days ahead as repeated rounds of storms take aim at the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians.

Widespread rain totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected from eastern Illinois and into southwestern Pennsylvania, the northeastern corner of Tennessee, and western Virginia. A more concentrated area of 4 to 8 inches is possible from east-central portions of Indiana into West Virginia.

An abundance of moisture in the atmosphere will fuel the heavy downpours. The most troublesome areas for flash flooding will be across parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania, and southern Ohio. Residents of cities such as Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Charleston will want to be aware of this threat. As is typical, the risk will be elevated along small streams and in low-lying areas. The major metro area of Chicago will also continue to be under the umbrella of rain and thunderstorms through at least Thursday.