Storms to Continue to Hammer the Central U.S. Through the Weekend

Storms will continue to rumble across the central U.S. right into the weekend, likely wearing out their welcome in a few places. Isolated pockets of thunderstorm activity are also a likelihood in the East. Read on for a more detailed account of when and where you can expect storms to pop off over the next few days.

High Plains Primary Target of Midweek Storms

Severe weather impacts will be a repeated headline in the days ahead across the nation's midsection. It has already been a rocky start to the week for millions of Americans. For instance, thunderstorms delayed the World Cup game between France and Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia.

Monday's storms in the eastern U.S. resulted in over 200 high-wind incidents. Likewise, storms focused on the Plains states triggered 50 reports of large hail as well as at least 10 tornadoes.

The storm action will continue across the Great Plains through the end of the work week. While Tuesday's activity impacted the central Plains, the eastern slopes of the Rockies, and the High Plains, Wednesday's storms will stretch from central portions of Wyoming all the way to the central Gulf Coast. This impact zone includes a large swath of the High Plains of New Mexico into the northwestern corner of Texas. Potential impacts with Wednesday's storms include large hail, damaging winds, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Looking at a few specific local forecasts, Goodland, Kansas, will be at the heart of storms late Wednesday. The hub of western Kansas is expecting scattered thunderstorms during the evening hours to become more widespread and intense overnight. The forecast is calling for 1 to 2 inches of rain after the sun goes down, paired with winds out of the east-southeast at 10 to 20 mph.

To the north, it will be a messy day in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This area is preparing for thunderstorms throughout the day and into the overnight hours. The clouds will keep highs in the low 70s before falling into the mid 50s overnight. It will be a breezy day in Cheyenne with winds out of the south-southeast at 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday's storm line is forecast to set up from eastern Idaho and central Montana to the southeast into Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri. Frequent lightning strikes could pose a hazard to people spending time outside. Areas that see repeated storms will also be under the threat of flash flooding.

Wichita, Kansas, will once again be dealing with scattered storms throughout the day and night. The metro area in the south-central part of the Sunflower State is forecast to see a high of just 79 degrees on Thursday due to the dreary conditions.

The flood risk will be the greatest in a zone from eastern Colorado into northern Mississippi and western Tennessee through Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday, the highest risk of flash flooding will shift to the north and the east. This will put much of Kansas, Nebraska, and portions of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys in the impact zone.

Several inches of rain could hit some areas each day. The moisture is coming from the Pacific to the west and the Gulf to the south, converging over the central U.S. Communities that see multiple inches of rain over a period of just a few hours will naturally be the most at risk of experiencing dangerous flash flooding.

Weekend Storm Forecast

The storm train will not let up over the weekend. The latest forecast models suggest that the severe thunderstorms will encompass an area from the northern Great Plains to the Upper Midwest on Saturday and Sunday. Long stretches of interstates 24, 80, 90, and 94 are anticipated to see storms ignite on both days. High winds will be one of the most concerning impacts of this weather pattern, potentially reaching speeds over 90 mph.

Forecasters are also warning that the chance of fast-moving thunderstorms known as derechos will be a possibility in the central U.S. beginning this weekend and lasting into the next week. These derechos are more likely to come together as a large heat dome builds over the nation's heartland in advance of Independence Day.

The East Coast will also get in on some of the storm action by early next week. While it is still early, forecasters are predicting that periodic storms could be an issue from North Carolina to the north into Delaware on Tuesday. These storms are expected to fire up on the back end of a widespread severe weather event forming along a cool front to start the new work week.

Looking ahead to the end of next week, more storms are forecast to menace a significant portion of the mid-Atlantic, the Ohio Valley, and the central Plains. We will provide more updates about what to expect on the Fourth of July weekend as the date inches closer.

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