Thunderstorms on Tap for the Northern Plains and Beyond This Week

Several rounds of severe weather are forecast to present issues for a large portion of the central U.S. to start the new work week. Read on for a deeper dive on what parts of the country should expect stormy conditions and when the greatest risks will fire up.

Messy Monday for Some of the Northern Plains

Storms capable of generating strong winds and hail will prowl the nation's midsection into the middle of the week. Forecasters are warning that some of the storm cells could pack severe impacts. The storms will form when an advancing cold front clashes with the warm and humid air currently circulating to the east and the south.

Monday's forecast is calling for storms to set up in a zone from northeastern Colorado and up into Minnesota. A greater concentration of storms will settle over North Dakota and to the east into Minnesota. In addition to the usual impacts of heavy rain, hail, and high winds, these storms could also generate isolated tornadic activity.

The upcoming severe weather risks come after a series of storms created damaging winds and hail across the northern Plains early last week. Some of the same general areas may be impacted with the latest round of thunderstorms.

Fargo, North Dakota, will begin the day on a docile note. However, storms are waiting on deck for the evening hours. The forecast is calling for highs in the upper 90s, lows that dive into the mid 60s, and winds out of the south-southeast at 10 to 15 mph.

While it will not be as stormy to the west in Bismarck, North Dakota, the city cannot count out the chance of a stray rain shower or thunderstorm on Monday afternoon. It will be a toasty day with highs of about 93 degrees. The conditions will change significantly on Tuesday with the arrival of the cold front, ushering in temperatures that max out in the upper 60s under cloudy skies.

Tuesday's Storms Will Move Farther to the South and the East

Tuesday's storm activity is forecast to creep farther to the south and the east. This will put the swath of land from Nebraska and Wisconsin into the primary impact zone. Once again, residents will want to prepare for torrential rain, localized damaging winds, and hail.

Motorists may encounter delays on the roads at the hands of ponding and reduced visibility. Air travelers will also want to check their flight status, as ground delays are likely when storms roll through the region's busiest airport hubs.

For instance, Minneapolis is bracing for scattered afternoon thunderstorms becoming more widespread in the evening and overnight hours. Temperatures will fall as the cold front pushes into this part of the Upper Midwest. The Twin Cities will fall from highs in the low 90s on Tuesday to overnight readings of 70 degrees. It will not be much warmer on Wednesday with a forecast high of 72 degrees. Like the rest of the region, winds will pick up slightly as the front tracks in this direction.

Wednesday's Forecast Predicting More of the Same

Forecasters are predicting that two different areas of severe weather are likely on Wednesday. The first area will expand from eastern Nebraska and up into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Powerful winds of up to 65 mph will be the most worrisome hazard on this day.

Cities such as Omaha should prepare for the threat of storms just in time for the morning commute. It will be noticeably cooler on Wednesday, with highs in the mid 80s rather than the low 90s. Overnight lows will bounce around in the mid 60s with more storms forecast to move into the metro area. It will be even cooler on Thursday in Omaha, with a predicted high of just 76 degrees. This will be almost a 20-degree swing from earlier in the week.

It will be unseasonably cool in Bismarck on Wednesday. This part of the northern Plains is expecting highs in the low 60s and readings that plunge into the upper 40s overnight. A steady rain in the morning will translate to about a quarter of an inch of accumulation. It will also be breezy with winds out of the north-northeast at 10 to 15 mph. When compared to Monday's highs in the low to mid 90s, Bismarck will experience a change of about 30 degrees in just 48 hours.

Moving to the east, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will wake up to morning rain showers on Wednesday. The threat of rain will persist into the evening hours. Clouds will keep the mercury in the mid 70s with winds out of the north-northeast at 10 to 20 mph making it feel slightly cooler at times.

A secondary zone of storms is in the forecast from eastern Colorado and into the southern tier of Nebraska and northern Kansas during the afternoon and evening hours. After seeing a mix of sun and clouds during the day, Colby, Kansas, will be under the gun for stormy conditions in the evening and overnight hours. The city in the western part of the state is anticipating highs in the upper 90s that slip into the low 60s overnight. Winds will clock in at 10 to 20 mph from the northeast.

The unsettled conditions are likely to persist into the end of the week in many parts of the Plains states. We will continue to keep tabs on the progression of these storms in the days ahead.

Weather changes fast — help your community stay prepared. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat.