Live updates: Dangerous severe weather outbreak threatens millions with strong tornadoes, huge hail
Live updates: Dangerous severe weather outbreak threatens millions with strong tornadoes, huge hail
Download the AppForecasters at the Storm Prediction Center say a new Tornado Watch will likely be issued soon for parts of south-central and southeast Nebraska into north-central Kansas as conditions become increasingly favorable for dangerous severe thunderstorms.
The Storm Prediction Center says it will issue a Tornado Watch for portions of Nebraska and Kansas in the next hour or two.
Meteorologists say the atmosphere is rapidly becoming more unstable this afternoon as temperatures climb and humidity surges across the region. Satellite imagery shows growing cumulus clouds bubbling up ahead of a cold front and dryline — often an early sign that thunderstorms are preparing to develop.
Once storms form, forecasters expect some to quickly become rotating supercells capable of producing very large hail, damaging winds and strong tornadoes. The tornado threat is expected to increase into the evening as winds strengthen near the ground, creating an environment highly supportive of rotating storms.
Dangerous severe thunderstorms are rapidly intensifying along the South Dakota-Nebraska border this afternoon, already producing destructive wind gusts and large hail as storms track across the northern Plains.
Severe thunderstorms are producing 75+ mph winds and damaging hail along the South Dakota-Nebraska border this afternoon.
FOX Weather storm reports show wind gusts reaching 77 mph near Spencer, South Dakota, with another gust of 62 mph reported near Geddes.
Large hail has also been reported near Burke, South Dakota, where quarter-size hail and torrential rainfall were occurring as storms pushed through the area.
Radar imagery shows a powerful line of thunderstorms stretching across portions of south-central South Dakota into northern Nebraska. Some of the strongest storms are capable of producing damaging straight-line winds, large hail and possibly tornadoes as atmospheric conditions continue to become more favorable for severe weather.
Forecasters warn the threat is expected to continue increasing through the late afternoon and evening hours as storms organize and move eastward across the region.
Even as dangerous severe storms unfold across the Plains this afternoon, the FOX Forecast Center is warning that Monday’s setup could become even more intense.
The FOX Weather Threat Zone shows a high threat for severe weather, including intense tornadoes across Kansas, western Missouri, and Iowa.
The FOX Weather Threat Zone shows a high threat for intense tornadoes, huge hail, and destructive winds across portions of the Midwest and Plains on Monday afternoon into the overnight hours.
FOX Weather meteorologists say a powerful storm system moving out of the Southwest will collide with hot, extremely humid air across the Plains, creating a volatile atmosphere primed for explosive thunderstorm development Monday afternoon and evening.
The greatest threat is expected from central Kansas into southeastern Nebraska, southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. As temperatures climb into the 80s and humidity surges, the atmosphere will become increasingly unstable through the day.
Forecasters expect thunderstorms to rapidly develop by mid-to-late afternoon along a cold front and dryline. Once storms form, they could quickly become intense rotating supercells capable of producing strong, long-track tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs or even softballs.
The threat may continue well into Monday night. As storms begin clustering together during the evening, the danger could shift toward widespread damaging winds capable of knocking down trees and power lines across large areas.
Residents across the central Plains should closely monitor forecasts and prepare now for the possibility of dangerous severe weather Monday afternoon and night.
As severe weather threatens parts of the Plains, it’s important to understand the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning — and what each means for your safety.
A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Watches are typically issued for large areas covering multiple counties and can last for several hours. During a watch, residents should stay alert, monitor forecasts and have a plan in place in case storms intensify quickly.
The National Weather Service issues a variety of alerts to help protect Americans from severe weather. Tornado Watches and Warnings are issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather and tornadoes to occur.
A Tornado Warning is much more urgent. Warnings are issued when a tornado has either been spotted by trained observers or indicated on weather radar. This means a tornado may be occurring or imminent in the warned area, and people should take shelter immediately.
The easiest way to remember the difference is: a watch means “be prepared,” while a warning means “take action now.”
FOX Weather meteorologists recommend having multiple ways to receive alerts, especially during overnight severe weather events when warnings may be issued while people are sleeping.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for portions of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota until 10:00 p.m. CT. The watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather and tornadoes to develop.
A Tornado Watch has been issued for portions of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota through 10 p.m. CT as dangerous severe thunderstorms begin developing across the northern Plains.
The FOX Forecast Center warns that conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for powerful supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes, giant hail and destructive wind gusts through this evening.
The watch includes cities and communities across eastern Nebraska, southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, where warm, humid air and strengthening winds in the atmosphere are creating an environment supportive of rotating storms.
Meteorologists say some storms could produce hail larger than baseballs, wind gusts approaching hurricane force and tornadoes that may become strong and long-lived.
People in the watch area are urged to stay weather-aware throughout the evening and make sure they have multiple ways to receive warnings if severe storms develop rapidly.
GOES-East satellite image showing cumulus clouds rapidly developing over Nebraska and Iowa as the atmosphere becomes unstable this afternoon.
GOES-East satellite imagery is beginning to show agitated cumulus clouds bubbling up across parts of Nebraska this afternoon — a sign that the atmosphere is rapidly destabilizing ahead of the expected severe weather outbreak.
FOX Weather meteorologists watch these growing cumulus fields closely because they often indicate the atmosphere is becoming unstable enough to support thunderstorm development. As temperatures continue to warm and humidity increases, conditions are becoming more favorable for supercells capable of producing tornadoes, giant hail and damaging winds later today.
Strong wind shear will combine with unstable air across the Plains to spark severe thunderstorms that will be capable of producing tornadoes, huge hail, and damaging winds through the evening hours.
The FOX Forecast Center says the greatest threat for tornadoes and giant hail later today will develop across parts of eastern Nebraska, southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and nearby portions of northeast Kansas and southwest Minnesota.
That’s where the atmosphere is expected to become especially dangerous as strong wind shear overlaps with very warm, humid and unstable air. In simple terms, the air near the ground will be extremely energetic, while winds higher in the atmosphere will be changing speed and direction with height — a key ingredient for rotating thunderstorms.
Meteorologists say this setup favors the development of powerful supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes, destructive wind gusts and hail potentially larger than baseballs.
The severe weather threat is expected to increase rapidly during the late afternoon and continue into the evening as storms intensify across the region. Some tornadoes could become long-lived if isolated supercells remain discrete before storms eventually organize into a larger line later tonight.
Residents across the northern and central Plains are urged to closely monitor forecasts and be prepared to act quickly if watches or warnings are issued.
Forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center say a Tornado Watch will likely be issued soon for parts of the northern Plains as conditions become increasingly favorable for dangerous severe thunderstorms.
The Storm Prediction Center says it will issue a Tornado Watch for portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska this afternoon.
The areas most at risk include southeast South Dakota, northeast Nebraska, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, where storms are expected to rapidly intensify through the afternoon and evening hours.
Meteorologists warn that the atmosphere is becoming highly unstable as warm, humid air spreads northward beneath strengthening winds higher in the atmosphere. That combination can help thunderstorms rotate, creating powerful supercells capable of producing strong tornadoes, giant hail and destructive wind gusts.
The FOX Forecast Center says hail up to 3.5 inches in diameter, wind gusts approaching 90 mph and strong tornadoes are all possible as storms develop later today.
Storms are expected to begin as isolated supercells capable of producing tornadoes and very large hail. Later this afternoon and evening, additional storms may organize into a larger line of thunderstorms, increasing the threat for widespread damaging winds across the region.
People in the threatened areas are urged to stay weather-aware throughout the day and have multiple ways to receive warnings as dangerous conditions continue to develop.
The threat of dangerous severe weather is ramping up across the Plains on Sunday, with forecasters warning that conditions could become increasingly volatile by late afternoon and evening.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed a large portion of the Central Plains and Middle Missouri Valley under a level 3 out of 5 on the agency’s severe weather scale. Areas included in the heightened threat zone include eastern Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota.
Severe thunderstorms are expected to erupt across the Plains later this afternoon-evening with strong tornadoes, huge hail, and damaging winds all possible across a dozen states.
Forecasters say the atmosphere across the region will become primed for severe thunderstorms as warm, humid air surges northward through the day. That moisture, combined with strengthening winds higher in the atmosphere, will create favorable conditions for rotating supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes and exceptionally large hail.
The greatest concern will develop during the late afternoon and early evening hours, when any storm that forms could rapidly intensify.
Meteorologists say the setup could support powerful supercells capable of producing hail large enough to cause significant damage, along with tornadoes that may become strong and long-lived.
As the evening progresses, the severe weather threat is expected to evolve. Individual supercells are forecast to merge into a larger line of thunderstorms as a strengthening low-level jet develops after sunset. Once storms organize into a squall line, the primary threat will shift from tornadoes to widespread damaging winds.
That line of storms is expected to push eastward through the evening and overnight hours, bringing the potential for destructive wind gusts across parts of the Plains and Midwest before gradually weakening later tonight.
Farther south, forecasters are also monitoring parts of western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and Kansas near the dryline, where isolated severe thunderstorms may erupt late Sunday. While a cap of warm air aloft could limit how many storms develop, any storm that breaks through the lid could quickly become severe with massive hail and intense wind gusts.
Meanwhile, parts of Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan could also see isolated severe storms near a warm front later Sunday if enough sunshine breaks through lingering cloud cover and helps destabilize the atmosphere.
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