Severe Weather Threat Across the Plains / Midwest Again Today...

Above is the latest severe weather outlook for today and tonight from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, OK. Severe storms are possible within the yellow shaded area on the image.

While the overall severe weather threat area is spread out over a rather large area, there are really 2 features at play within the region.  First is a stationary front extending from western Oklahoma into southern Missouri and Illinois.  Thunderstorms have continued along this boundary overnight and into this morning.  The existing activity will reorganize and/or intensify by midday into the afternoon, and additional new development will also take place during the afternoon and into this evening.

Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary threats in this region, although an isolated tornado cannot be completely ruled out.  

The second feature at play is a dryline extending near the Western border of the severe weather outlook area, from eastern Colorado into the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle region.

Thunderstorms are forecast to develop along and near this boundary during the afternoon and evening, some of which will become severe.  Very large hail (in excess of 2 inches in diameter) is possible, particularly within the black hatched area on the image below:

A threat of a few tornadoes will also exist with severe storms in this region, particularly as the evening progresses and into at least early tonight.  If you live across this region, please make sure that you have a way to receive severe weather warnings at night.

If you live across any of the above mentioned severe weather areas, please be sure to monitor NOAA Weather Radio, local media or another trusted source for later information, watches and possible warnings today and into this evening.  Be sure to identify your best sheltering option and have it prepared so that you can move there quickly if threatening weather is observed or a warning is issued.

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