Central US Faces Week of Severe Storms and Flooding Through Friday

Severe Storm Threat Builds in Central US The central US is forecast to experience multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms through Friday.

Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms will occur in the central US through Friday. About a dozen states from Texas to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes will see a threat of severe storms on one or more days through Friday. Southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities, are in the corridor for Monday’s most intense severe storms.

Severe storms are expected to fire up in southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin by late afternoon on Monday. Hail up to golf ball or baseball size is possible in southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin on Monday, which may cause property damage including dents to vehicles and roofs.

Storms could produce a few tornadoes in southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin on Monday. Winds strong enough to down trees and power lines are possible in southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin on Monday.

Widespread Storms Forecast for Tuesday Tuesday could have the most widespread number of severe storms.

The storm threat zone on Tuesday spans from West Texas into Oklahoma and the Great Lakes. Chicago, Milwaukee, and Des Moines, Iowa, are under a Level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday. More than 14 million people are under the Level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday.

Supercell thunderstorms could fire up in the corridor by late afternoon on Tuesday. Damaging hail the size of limes or bigger is possible from supercell thunderstorms on Tuesday. Some storms on Tuesday could produce tornadoes rated EF2 or higher, though the overall risk level varies by location.

Storms will blast eastward into the evening across Michigan and northern parts of Ohio and Indiana on Tuesday.

Additional Rounds Expected Mid-Week and Friday Wednesday is expected to bring another round of strong storms.

One more surge of jet stream energy will fire up a final round of potent thunderstorms on Friday. The final round of potent thunderstorms on Friday will occur especially from Oklahoma to Iowa. The central US will get a breather over the weekend due to a weather pattern change.

A weather pattern change will usher in a temperature drop over the weekend in the central US.

Flooding Risks in Northern Regions Rivers are already running high in northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin.

Flood watches are in effect for northern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. Multiple rounds of rainfall this week could aggravate ongoing river flooding in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Multiple rounds of rainfall this week could send more rivers surging in northern Wisconsin and Michigan.

Flash flood warnings are in effect following water releases from the Tippy Dam on the Manistee River in northern Michigan. Flash flood warnings are in effect following water releases from the Mio Dam on the Au Sable River in northern Michigan.

“Locations downstream from the Tippy Dam and Mio Dam should be prepared for flooding. — alerts The Muskegon River near Evart, Michigan, is forecast to hit major flood stage of 14 feet by Wednesday. Subdivisions along the Muskegon River upstream from Evart, Michigan, would see major flooding at 14 feet. Major flooding at 14 feet on the Muskegon River could trigger significant evacuations, according to the National Weather Service.”