Severe Storms to Slam the Midwest Monday With Hail, Tornadoes

A large portion of the Midwest is bracing for the threat of severe weather to start the new work week. While the storms and the associated moisture could work to clear out some of the wildfire smoke, the active weather pattern will also come with its own potential perils. Read on for what you need to know about Monday's storms.

Stormy Monday in Store for Large Zone in Midwest

Severe storms are firing up across the Midwest on Monday. The pattern will be similar to what unfolded across the Southeast on Sunday when severe storms ignited in a zone from Alabama to Virginia. Monday's greatest severe storm risk will be across the Upper Midwest as a cold front dips down from central Canada.

The clash of the Canadian cold front with the warm and humid air in place over the Midwest will support the development of these storms as the day progresses. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common this time of the year as the natural increase of temperatures fuels the activity.

Monday's forecast is calling for storms to develop across a swath of land from Iowa to the north and east into Michigan and central Indiana. Cities in the bullseye of the severe weather on Monday include Waterloo, Iowa; Rochester, Minnesota; and Madison, Wisconsin. Major urban areas such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and Des Moines are located on the fringe of the anticipated storm action.

The line of storms to start the week will carry the usual impacts, ranging from large hail to high winds to heavy rain. There is also a chance that a few tornadoes could spin up in the strongest storm cells.

Although the storms will inevitably trigger travel disruptions, the moisture will help to clear out the lingering wildfire smoke. This part of the northern U.S. has been dodging frequent waves of smoke and haze coming down from wildfires burning in Canada.

Looking ahead, the latest forecast models indicate that the storms will shift to the east on Tuesday. The Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic will be caught in the crosshairs of Tuesday's storms. Stay tuned for the latest on this forecast as the cold front continues to push to the east.

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