Severe Weather Threatening in the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys

Do not let the docile conditions as of late across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys fool you. It is still the heart of the severe weather season with more action on the way. Here is a look at where to expect the storms in the days ahead.

Storms Moving Into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and Beyond by End of Week

The threat of thunderstorms is back in the forecast for the Ohio and Tennessee valleys by the end of the week. After a break from the action over the last few days, the central U.S. is bracing for the return of the stormy conditions that are more typical of this time of the year. Some of the storms could also migrate over to the middle portions of the Mississippi Valley.

It has already been the worst season for tornadoes in over a decade. This trend is expected to continue this week with forecasters warning that tornadic activity could surge heading into the weekend. In addition to the chance of tornadoes, the severe storms will also likely produce damaging winds.

The increase in the risks of severe storms will come as a storm that originated in the Pacific Ocean moves across the northern Plains by the middle of the week. This system will work to trim the record-high temperatures that have been gripping the north-central portions of the country since the weekend.

What to Expect for the Timing of the Storms

The greatest chance of storms on Wednesday will churn up across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest. High winds and hail will be the primary impacts associated with any potential storm cells on this day. The dry air still present in this region will mitigate the development of severe weather.

It will be another scorcher of a day in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The mercury is forecast to surge into the upper 80s again on Wednesday. The change is on the way by the evening hours with storms firing up after midnight. After approaching the 90-degree mark on Wednesday, temperatures will hover in the mid 60s for a high on Thursday. Scattered thunderstorms may also impact the morning commute.

This part of the region is also bracing for high winds on Thursday. Wind speeds will clock in at 25 to 35 mph from the west-southwest in Sioux Falls with some gusts hitting the 40 mph mark.

The windy conditions will stretch as far as Omaha on Thursday. The largest metro area in Omaha is forecast to see winds out of the west at 20 to 30 mph with the potential of stronger gusts. The temperature change will not be as dramatic along the southern edge of the northern Plains. Omaha will slide from highs in the upper 80s on Wednesday to readings in the upper 70s on Thursday.

Thursday's Forecast Calling for Storms to Become More Intense and Widespread

The impacts of this weather maker are likely to become more concerning by later Thursday as the weather maker moves farther to the southeast and finds moisture-rich air to act as fuel. The warm and moist air will support the development of powerful winds, hail, flooding rainfall, and tornadoes beginning Thursday afternoon.

Portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana should prepare for all facets of severe weather by Thursday evening. This threat will continue through Friday for the region. The end of the work week will bring the greatest chance of tornadoes to spin up. The primary impact zone will stretch from the middle Mississippi Valley and up through the Ohio Valley and portions of the Tennessee Valley, beginning in the afternoon and persisting overnight.

Forecasters are warning that long-duration twisters are a possibility with this atmospheric setup. The tornadoes could stay on the ground for dozens of miles and hit under the cover of darkness, amplifying the threat to residents.

Detroit is expecting the highest risk of severe weather over the next few days overnight Thursday and into early Friday. The Thursday overnight forecast is predicting severe weather, lows that bounce around in the mid 60s, and winds out of the south of at 10 to 20 mph.

The clouds and rain will clear out by Friday, ushering in plentiful sunshine and highs that inch up into the upper 80s. However, the storms will return to the Motor City in the overnight hours once again. This is a good time to remind people in the path of the nocturnal storms to enable all smartphone weather notifications before going to bed.

Elsewhere on Friday

St. Louis is expecting the peak of the storms on Friday afternoon and evening. Temperatures in the upper 80s will fuel the development of severe weather.

Evansville, Indiana, will also experience the greatest threat of storms during the afternoon and evening hours on Friday. It will remain warm with a forecast high of about 86 degrees. Another breezy day is on tap as winds reach speeds of 10 to 20 mph from the south-southwest. The risk of storms will persist overnight with some of the cells possibly carrying severe impacts.

The storms are likely to reach Chicago by Friday evening. The Windy City is forecast to see scattered storms impact evening activities before clearing out overnight. Friday's forecast is also calling for winds out of the south-southwest at 15 to 25 mph. Chicago will see one more day with temperatures in the low 80s before the mercury tumbles into the mid 60s for a high on Saturday and only the mid 50s on Sunday.

The line of storms is predicted to stretch to the east into the mid-Atlantic region overnight Friday. By Saturday, the storms are forecast to impact a long swath of land from the southern Plains and to the east into the Carolinas.

While it is still too far in advance to pinpoint with certainty, the severe weather could migrate back to the central Plains on Sunday. Meteorologists will keep an eye on how the weekend forecast progresses and update accordingly.

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