Severe storm threat stretches over 1,000 miles through America's heartland on Saturday
As a cold front continues pressing eastward out of the West, it will morph into a multiday severe weather threat into the nation’s midsection – also right on time as the start of astronomical fall signals the beginning of the second severe weather season.
Rounds of severe weather have returned to the Plains just as summer fades into autumn.
After some strong thunderstorms Thursday triggered Tornado Watches, a more widespread event is expected to unfold on Saturday.
SPC's Saturday severe weather forecast places eight states within a Level 2 out of 5 risk, extending from southern Minnesota south into central Oklahoma. Of those, three states are within a Level 3 out of 5 risk and shaded in maroon in the graphic below. Those areas include southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma.
FALL IS THE SECOND SEVERE WEATHER SEASON
(FOX Weather)
Threats again include thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and possibly a few tornadoes.
"A big story that we're following," said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. "So get ready for more stormy skies as they are expected as we continue to get into fall."
Meanwhile, farther north and west, it's not severe weather but heavy rains causing potential issues.
As a potent cold front sweeps across the West, there will be widespread rain from the northern Rockies to the southern Plains, with some thunderstorms again dropping 2-3 inches of rain. For areas that have already had a soggy end of the week from passing strong thunderstorms, the additional rains will continue a risk of flash flooding.
THE 5-POINT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM RISK CATEGORY SCALE EXPLAINED
(FOX Weather)
Severe strikes Southern Plains on Sunday
Come Sunday, the severe weather threat shifts south, with parts of southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas under a Level 2 out of 5 risk, according to the SPC.
By Sunday evening, up to 5 inches of rain will have fallen across the Plains.
(FOX Weather)
Storm damage seen across Plains
On Thursday, a wall cloud dropped from severe storms that moved through Nebraska. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and a Tornado Watch were issued shortly after 4 p.m. local time. The storms produced large hail from tennis ball to baseball-size along Interstate 80.
Various reports came in of cars damaged and tree limbs down from the hail. A high wind report came in of about 81 mph was reported 9.5 miles from McCook, Nebraska.
In Concordia, Kansas, winds also picked up with pea-size hail.
Storm chaser Isaac Schluesche was in Norton, Kansas, as he reported wind gusts of 60-70mph as they whipped through a gas station awning.
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