Storms Will Hang Around the Central U.S. in the Days Ahead

It is going to be another weekend of uncertain weather for those in the central U.S. The potential of severe thunderstorms could disrupt outdoor plans in the nation's heartland. Read on for more details about the stormy forecast.

Stubborn Storms Throughout the Central U.S.

High winds, times of rain, hail, and the threat of tornadoes will take aim at the central portions of the country through the weekend. The storms are forecast to ignite along the eastern side of a heat dome that is tethered over the western U.S. in the days ahead. Some of the hardest-hit areas could see repeated downpours over the course of multiple days.

The greatest impacts expected out of these storm cells will be torrential rain. Gusty winds will also be capable of bringing down tree limbs and triggering sporadic power outages. Travel delays could also be an issue at times.

Thursday's storm action centered over the eastern Dakotas and to the south into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. Omaha was in the bullseye of this activity on Thursday with locally heavy rain one of the most significant impacts.

Friday's Forecast Calls for Storms Across the High Plains and Beyond

Friday's severe weather threat is predicted to persist over some areas of the High Plains of New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Once again, the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles will be in the crosshairs of the storms.

Another zone of storms is expected to set up from northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska and up into southeastern Iowa, northern Missouri, northwestern Illinois, and the southwestern corner of Wisconsin. Potential impacts of Friday's weather maker include strong winds, hail, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes.

Kansas City will be closer to the action on this night. The metro area that sits in both Kansas and Missouri is forecast to see sun to start the day with increasing clouds as the afternoon progresses. The greatest chance of rain and storms will be in the evening hours. Kansas City is also forecast to see a high of about 92 degrees, readings that fall into the low 70s overnight, and winds out of the south-southwest at 10 to 20 mph.

Des Moines is bracing for a day of rocky weather on Friday. The largest metro area in Iowa is forecast to see widespread storms throughout the day and into the evening hours. You can expect a high of about 81 degrees and lows that fall into the upper 60s.

The worst of the storms will hold off until later in the day in Davenport, Iowa. This city along the mighty Mississippi is expecting cloudy skies early, with increasing chances of storms in the afternoon and evening. Locally heavy storms are possible overnight. The overnight will also bring a good amount of rain, amounting to about an inch. Temperatures will hit the 90-degree mark before diving into the upper 60s overnight.

Looking Ahead to the Weekend

The weekend forecast will also see scattered storms creeping across the central U.S. Saturday's storms are forecast to stretch from northern Texas and Oklahoma, to the north into eastern Wisconsin and Michigan. Once again, high winds, flash flooding, and hail will be the biggest hazards.

Air travelers using the busy hubs of Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago will want to stay on top of the developing weather. It is not unlikely that ground stops could hamper flight times as storms roll through the region.

Indianapolis is another major metro area that could get caught in the advancing storms. The forecast is calling for thunderstorms to come to life in the afternoon. Highs will reach the low 90s with lows settling at about the 70-degree mark. Winds will clock in at 10 to 15 mph from the southwest.

The line of storms will move farther to the east by Sunday, encompassing parts of the Great Lakes, the Appalachians, and the Tennessee Valley. While a good amount of storms will track to the east, lingering effects could be an issue for parts of Texas and Oklahoma as the weekend comes to a close.

Little Rock will be on the western edge of this mass of storms on Sunday. The capital city of Arkansas is likely to see the storms become an issue in the afternoon and evening hours. It will be a steamy day with highs in the low 90s and temperatures that fall into the mid 70s.

You will find a similar situation in Nashville, with dry conditions early and storms making an appearance in the latter part of the day. The Music City is forecast to see a high of about 91 degrees, along with lows that hover at about 75 degrees overnight.

The storm cells will stretch all the way into the eastern portions of the Great Lakes by the tail end of the weekend. Buffalo could see a day of scattered storms that hang around through the evening. It will be a breezy day in the city along the shores of Lake Erie with winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph. The increasing clouds will keep the temperature in the low 80s for a high before falling into the upper 60s after the sun goes down.

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