Strong Storm System Brings Tornado Risk to the Plains and Midwest

A new week is bringing a new round of rain and severe storms to the Plains states and the Midwest. Read on for what you can expect as the new work week kicks off.

Rain and Storms Will Persist Across the Midwest

Sunday's stormy weather pattern is going to march right into Monday across a large swath of the nation's midsection. After weeks of unseasonably hot temperatures, a decidedly fall weather pattern is going to spread across the northern third of the country. Meanwhile, moisture-rich air coming up from the Gulf and over from the Atlantic will result in heavy rain and severe storms from the Plains to the east, reaching the Atlantic Seaboard.

An active jet stream is supporting the development of these storms through at least Tuesday. The line of storms that impacted the northern Plains on Sunday will shift to the east on Monday, bringing portions of Kansas, Nebraska, northwestern Missouri, Iowa, and southern Minnesota into the mix. Potential impacts on Monday include damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. Forecasters are warning that ample energy circulating at jet stream level could translate to a widespread tornado outbreak.

The weather maker will bring down colder air from Canada, depositing it over Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and western Minnesota. It will feel more like fall for the bulk of the northern Plains. Temperatures will fall enough to support snow across the highest elevations of Idaho and Montana. Meanwhile, heavy rain will be the story for a zone from eastern Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, western Minnesota, and the Upper Midwest.

All eyes will be on Kansas City on Monday night as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in the first Monday night football game of the season. The forecast is calling for summer to hold on a bit longer in this part of the Plains. Tailgaters at Arrowhead Stadium will see temperatures in the mid 90s during the peak afternoon heating hours under plenty of sunshine. It will remain warm, with an overnight low now bottoming out in the upper 70s. The cooler temperatures and chance of rain will arrive later in the week in Kansas City.

Where to Expect the Heaviest Rain Bands

Although this storm system will pack enough moisture to raise the risk of localized flash flooding, some areas could really use a good dousing of rain. The extensive cloud cover will keep highs in the 60s for much of the northern Plains to start the week.

Another round of persistent moisture is forecast to develop in areas farther south later in the week. This cluster of rain showers and storms will spread west to east beginning in Nebraska and Kansas and reaching as far as Lake Erie.

The greatest concentration of rain over the next few weeks is expected to hit the zone from southeastern Nebraska and into southern and central Iowa and the northwestern corner of Illinois. Several inches of rain capable of triggering flash flooding is possible in this region.

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