The Ohio Valley and the Dakotas will be the hotspot for severe thunderstorms through this evening. The storms will carry a wallop of high winds and large hail, though frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall will also be possible.
Because of the threat for severe storms, Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been issued for much of Indiana, western Ohio, central Kentucky, and northern Tennessee. This watch includes the cities of Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn. A front will remain stalled from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic today. Dividing much cooler, drier air in its wake across the Great Lakes with near-record heat in the Missouri Valley, the front will be the trigger for waves of powerful thunderstorms.
The Northern Plains will get in on the severe weather action this evening. Powerful thunderstorms will explode in very hot and humid air ahead of a cold front emerging off the Rocky Front Range. Aberdeen, S.D., and Bismarck and Fargo, N.D., will be most at risk for dangerous thunderstorms roaming the Interstates 90 and 94 corridors.
Because of the threat for severe storms a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for parts of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, including the cities of Fargo, N.D., and Crookston, Minn.
Damaging wind gusts exceeding 70 mph will be the biggest threat, though golf ball size-hail, torrential downpours capable of triggering flash flooding, and frequent lightning will all be common. In the most intense thunderstorms, 1 to 3 inches of rain could easily be squeezed out. If you approach a flooded roadway, it is best to, "Turn Around, Don`t Drown!" Fortunately, cooler and drier weather will arrive in time for the conclusion of the week. Instead of the 90s and triple-digits many have become accustomed to, Canadian high pressure will bring more tolerable 80s to around 90-degree readings to the Missouri and Ohio valleys through the start of the weekend. Be sure to keep WeatherBug active to receive the latest weather in your neighborhood and get the latest updates anywhere on Twitter. What do you think of this story? Click here for comments or suggestions.
