Update on Severe Weather Threat for Friday and Saturday...

A strong upper-level low pressure system swirling just off the California coast this morning will move Eastward over the next few days, bringing several rounds of severe weather to the Plains, Midwest and Ohio through Mississippi Valley Region toward the end of this week and into this weekend.

The latest severe weather outlook from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) for Friday is shown below:

Isolated to widely scattered severe storms are forecast within the brown shaded areas on the image, with scattered severe storms forecast within the yellow shaded areas.

Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes can be expected with severe storms on Friday.

By Saturday, the threat of severe weather will shift toward the East and Northeast.  The most pronounced threat of severe weather, with a regional severe weather outbreak possible, is forecast across portions of the Midwest into the central Plains, as indicated by the red shaded area on the image below:

Damaging wind gusts, tornadoes, and large hail will all be possible with severe activity in this region on Saturday.  The threat of severe weather may begin as early as late morning or midday across the Western portions of the outlook area.  One or two strong tornadoes also cannot be ruled out in this region, so folks should pay particular attention to the weather on Saturday.

A threat of isolated to scattered severe storms will also extend to the southwest of the area shown above, into central and eastern Oklahoma and northwest and northcentral Texas on Saturday afternoon and evening.  Large hail, damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado are possible in this region.

If you live across the severe weather threat areas for Friday and Saturday, please take a few moments this week to review severe weather safety and preparedness tips.  Make sure that you have identified your best sheltering options at home, work or school and be prepared to move there quickly if threatening weather is observed or a warning is issued for your location.

We'll continue to closely monitor this situation and issue additional updates throughout the week.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow Rob on facebook and twitter:

 

If you are in need of customized, site specific weather forecasts or storm warnings for your company or event, be sure visit Rob's professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.