Severe Storms Head for the Northern Plains, Then Swing South

The same system that is dumping heavy rain across the East Coast at midweek is going to shift to the west as the week progresses, targeting a large portion of the Plains states. Here is an updated look at what you can expect as the multi-day storm event marches onward.

Storms Shift to the West as Week Progresses

An unusually strong July storm system is creating travel headaches and wiping out outdoor plans across much of the U.S. this week. The storms first fired up across the Great Lakes on Monday before moving into the Northeast on Tuesday. The Southeast was up next on Wednesday, impacting a large swath of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.

The heat dome that has been centered over the central U.S. all week has started to shift toward the southwest. The movement of this area of high pressure will combine with a series of weak dips in the jet stream rippling along the northern periphery of the heat dome to support the development of more thunderstorm activity for the Plains on Thursday.

The latest forecast models indicate that the greatest concentration of storms on Thursday will ignite across northern Kansas and upward toward the Canadian border. Likely impacts include high winds and flooding downpours. Some of the most volatile storm cells could also usher in hail.

Communities in the line of fire for Thursday's storms include Omaha, Nebraska; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Fargo, North Dakota.

Looking ahead to Friday, the line of storms is forecast to dip to the south. This will bring the action to a zone from eastern Oklahoma through southwestern Tennessee and the northwestern corner of Mississippi. Forecasters are warning residents in this area to be ready for hail, heavy rain, and damaging winds. Cities in the impact zone for Friday's storms include Tulsa, Little Rock, and Memphis.

Meanwhile, the Southeast will also continue to see frequent rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms well into the weekend. Localized flash flooding is a possibility in areas that see repeated waves of moisture. Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are forecast through Sunday for the eastern Gulf Coast. While the stream of moisture could rain out outdoor plans, the pattern is good news for the ongoing drought.

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