New Wave of Storms to Return to the Heartland by Midweek

Enjoy the break from the wrath of Mother Nature while you can. Forecasters are monitoring an impending severe weather threat set to fire up across the Midwest by the middle of the week. Read on for when the storms are forecast to return to the nation's heartland.

Storms Will Rumble Across the Midwest by Midweek

Severe storms rumbled across the Plains and into the eastern U.S. on Sunday, closing the weekend on a volatile note. Most of the country's midsection will be able to catch its breath on Monday and Tuesday when a calmer weather pattern settles into the region.

However, the respite from the action will not last long. The latest forecast models suggest that the atmosphere will reload for another round of severe weather across the Midwest on Wednesday. The storms will be fueled by an area of low pressure merging with a surge of moisture coming up from the Gulf.

The same general area that experienced thunderstorm activity over the last few days will once again be under the gun for unsettled weather. Storms are possible on Wednesday across a swath of real estate from eastern Nebraska to the east into western West Virginia. The greatest concentration of storms is forecast over Missouri and Illinois. Likely hazards include hail, high winds, and isolated tornadoes.

A number of major metro areas in the central U.S. will see the possibility of severe impacts. Kansas City is forecast to land on the western flank of the impact zone. This metro area is expected to see the threat of storms erupt in the latter part of the afternoon and into the overnight hours. It will be a hot and windy day with highs of about 93 degrees and winds whipping around from the southwest at speeds of 20 to 30 mph. Overnight lows will slide into the upper 60s.

The good news is that the severe weather is forecast to hold off until after Tuesday night's World Cup game in Kansas City. The first match in the Kansas City group will kick off at 8 pm when Argentina takes on Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium.

St. Louis will be at the heart of the action on Wednesday night. The Arch City is anticipating widespread thunderstorms during the evening hours. Temperatures will fall to about the 70-degree mark after peaking near 90 degrees in the afternoon. Like Kansas City, it will be a windy day with winds out of the south at 15 to 25 mph.

Although Chicago will not be the focal point of the thunderstorms during the day Wednesday, it will still be a wet day in the Windy City. This part of northern Illinois is forecast to pick up about a half of an inch of rain before thunderstorms become a threat in the evening hours. There will be little variation in the temperatures with a high of about 67 degrees and lows that bottom out just a few notches lower. Winds will be out of the south at 10 to 20 mph.

While the day will start on a calm note on Wednesday in Columbus, the capital city of Ohio is forecast to take it on the chin beginning in the evening hours. In addition to rainfall of about an inch during the overnight hours, the city will also be under a persistent threat of thunderstorm activity. The chance of storms will linger into the new day, potentially spelling trouble for morning commuters on Thursday.

Other cities expected to hear the rumble of thunder on Wednesday include Indianapolis, Lexington, Omaha, and Des Moines.

Storms Creep to the East on Thursday

The risk of storms will shift farther to the east on Thursday along with the movement of the frontal boundary. This movement will put a zone from the Ohio Valley through the Northeast into the potential impact zone. Some of the strongest storm cells will be capable of generating destructive winds and flooding rainfall.

It is going to be a rocky day of weather in Louisville. The largest city in Kentucky is bracing for widespread thunderstorms with winds clocking in at 10 to 20 mph from the west-southwest. The clouds will keep temperatures capped at about the 80-degree mark during the peak afternoon heating hours. Lows will tumble to about 63 degrees after the sun goes down.

The line of storms will expand to the northeast, reaching as far as portions of the interior Northeast and central New England on Thursday. For instance, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will see storms ignite in the afternoon and evening hours. Meteorologists are warning that some of these storm cells could pack severe impacts. It will be a toasty day in the interior Northeast with highs in the upper 80s.

To the north, the stream of moisture will extend into areas such as Burlington, Vermont. The picturesque college town will see about a quarter of an inch of rain, highs that top out in the mid 70s, and winds out of the south-southeast at 15 to 25 mph.

Motorists planning to use interstates 64, 80, 81, and 95 in this area should be ready for the possibility of travel delays. In addition to the usual ponding and standing water concerns, rain could be heavy enough at times to lead to reduced visibility for drivers.

A more precise forecast will be available later in the week as the models become clearer. Be sure to check back often for all of the latest information.

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