'Ring of fire' ignites severe storms across northern, southern US as flood potential grows
The biggest threat with any storms that develop during the afternoon and evening will be damaging winds, though small hail and a few tornadoes are also possible.
Drenching storms ride along 'ring of fire' sparking days of severe weather
Rounds of severe storms will continue across the central and northern tier of the U.S. on Wednesday as a large dome of high pressure sits across the Southeast. These ring of fire storms will pop up with daytime heating into the afternoon, delivering rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms across areas from the Plains into the Northeast.
Fast Facts:
- "Ring of fire" storms will enhance the flood risk, with 3-5 inches of rain likely across the northern tier of the U.S., and an increasing flood risk for parts of the Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle.
- A Level 2 out of 5 severe storm risk affects over 26 million people from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, with storms posing threats of hail, intense winds and a few tornadoes.
- Locally heavy rain from storms will likely lead to flash flooding.
Rounds of severe storms will continue across the central and northern tier of the U.S. on Wednesday as a large dome of high pressure sits across the Southeast, the FOX Forecast Center said.
The first Severe Thunderstorm Watch box of the event was issued for communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia where thunderstorms were taking the unusual track of starting along the coast and working westbound.
Across the northern tier of the country, severe weather watches stretched from Nebraska through western Wisconsin and included a Tornado Watch south of Minneapolis.
The possibility of downbursts (localized areas of intense, damaging winds) exists within this line of storms, the FOX Forecast Center said. All the storms will be full of moisture and will form into clusters where heavier rain totals could occur.
A chance of flash flooding exists across the central and eastern Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle. Rain totals of up to 3-5 inches are possible, especially closer to the Gulf Coast.
HEAT DOME TO BRING ANOTHER DAY OF STIFLING TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF
As the ridge of high pressure continues to break down, afternoon storms will remain in the forecast into the end of the week, the FOX Forecast Center said.