Weather News
Published

Ohio Valley under severe storm threat as active week of weather in the Midwest unfolds

The combination of high wind shear and low instability will provide the necessary ingredients for severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes.

By Kieran Sullivan Source FOX Weather

Classic severe storm setup present in the Ohio River Valley Thursday

On the heels of a cold front in the Midwest, a severe storm threat is present across more than five states in the region. FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier analyzes the upcoming threat. 

The Midwest is in the middle of an active week of weather that will continue as the weekend approaches.

On the heels of a powerful winter storm that will stretch across more than 1,000 miles, the ingredients for a potential class severe storm setup threaten millions in the Ohio Valley on Thursday.

SPRAWLING WINTER STORM STRETCHING 1,000+ MILES TO BRING DANGEROUS SNOW AND ICE ACROSS NORTHERN TIER

While much of the Northern Tier combats a strong winter packing snow and ice through Tuesday and on Wednesday, the growing threat of strong severe weather threatens millions in the Midwest as the combination of high wind shear and low instability will provide the necessary ingredients for severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes.

A level 2/5 severe storm threat is in place across parts of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, and includes a slew of major cities, including Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis to name a few.

A larger 1/5 severe storm threat extends across a larger area in the Midwest, stretching into Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia.

WHAT IS A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM?

According to the FOX Forecast Center, discreet supercells will be a concern in the afternoon hours and set the stage for the potential development of tornadoes.

Image 1 of 2

The setup on Thursday will feature an area of low pressure sitting over the Missouri River Valley. Ahead of the low, surface winds out of the south will help transport warmer air into the region. Meanwhile a few thousands feet above the ground, winds will shift to the west-southwest. This change in wind direction in height, or wind shear, will allow any storms that develop, to begin rotating and strengthening. ( )

Image 2 of 2

This rotation may lead to the eventual spin up of a tornado or two.  But first, we'll need the storms to develop and grow. And this is where the ingredients may be lacking. The amount of available energy, or CAPE in the atmosphere will be rather low. Because of this, storms may struggle to intensify. ( )

This marks the first severe storm threat in the Ohio River Valley this year, as a large storm system from the Plains will drag warm humid air into the region that will provide the fuel necessary for severe weather.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, while the available energy may cause storms to struggle to intensify, the atmospheric lift will be more than enough to compensate to produce severe weather.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

As the evening progresses, these storms will likely cluster into a line, shifting the primary threat toward damaging wind gusts.

By Friday, the primary system is expected to lose its punch as it crosses the Great Lakes.