Potent Storms Rumble Across Central Plains, Upper Midwest

While Independence Day is still several days out, Mother Nature will provide some fireworks of her own across the central U.S. today.

A cold front will slowly drop south across the central U.S. today. Hot and very humid weather will be in place ahead of the cold front, while colder, drier air filters in behind it. This collision of air masses combined with daytime heating will serve as the focus for robust thunderstorm development during the afternoon and evening.

As if that wasn’t enough, a decaying line of thunderstorms from Saturday will spread across the Upper Midwest Valley today. This could trigger rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms later today.

The government’s Storm Prediction Center has two seperate Slight Risk zones for severe weather, from the central High Plains into the Upper Midwest.. A slight risk is a 2 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale. This includes Cheyenne, Wyo., parts of the Denver metro area, Colby, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., Marquette, Mich., and La Crosse and Green Bay, Wis.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for a large portion of central Wisconsin that includes Green Bay and Madison. Damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph are possible as well hail as large as an inch in diameter.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, and  northeast Oklahoma. Cities include Chanute, Kan., and Joplin and Springfield, Mo. Damaging wind gusts to 70 mph and hail to 1 inch in diameter are possible.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for portions of northeast Colorado, western Nebraska, southwest South Dakota, and eastern Wyoming. Cities include Cheyenne, Wyo., Denver, Sidney, Scottsbluff, and Chadron, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D. Hail to 2.5 inches in diameter and damaging wind gusts to 70 mph are possible.

The main concern for all these areas will be damaging wind gusts. Here, wind gusts within thunderstorms could exceed 50 to 60 mph. Large hail will also be a possibility, with the greatest chance occurring in the central High Plains. Quarter-size hail or larger could develop across the High Plains from eastern Wyoming into northeastern Colorado. While a smaller threat, a few isolated brief tornadoes cannot be ruled out in any areas within the Slight Risk.

Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.

The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today’s severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”