Great Plains States and Mississippi Valley in Line to See Severe Weather Beginning Late Thursday

Posted: November 1, 2022 12:41 pm

Tropical Activity Will Help to Fuel Storms With More Moisture

The same storm system that is gearing up to dump snow across much of the higher elevations of the western U.S. will also be responsible for a rash of severe weather forecasted for a large swath of the central portions of the country.

Plains and Mississippi Valley Forecast to Experience Severe Weather

Forecasters are predicting that these storms will hit the Plains and the Mississippi Valley later this week, lasting into the weekend. The storms will likely fire up later in the day Thursday and will continue to impact the region for several days. The system will come down from the Rockies with plenty of moisture and energy left to wreak havoc on every area in its path.

The widespread severe weather will fire up when the cold air from the system in the West meets up with the warm air that is currently anchored over the central U.S. This clash of competing temperatures will happen at about the same time that the jet stream provides an influx of energy. A continual flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will put all of the ingredients in place for severe weather to develop.

Western Kansas and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma will see the first of the stormy action. In addition to heavy rain, hail and strong winds will impact the region. There may even be an isolated tornado or two with this weather maker.

There will be more stormy conditions on Friday as the moisture from the Gulf fully infiltrates the area. The primary zone of concern on Friday afternoon will stretch from southern Kansas into Oklahoma and Texas. The storm cells are predicted to move farther eastward, affecting some parts of the lower Plains and the Mississippi Valley. Be sure to stay tuned to the forecast in the coming days if you live in this region.

Severe Weather to Spread East and North by Weekend

The weekend may bring the threat of severe weather to a wide area, including parts of eastern Texas and Louisiana and stretching as far north and east as Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. By the time the weekend is over, the storms may move into the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes.

The rainfall associated with this line of storms will bring along the potential for flooding on Friday and Saturday. Eastern Kansas, Missouri, and southern Iowa are most likely to see the heavy rain.

A tropical storm brewing in the western Caribbean may also help to fuel that surge of moisture that is traveling up from the Gulf of Mexico. While most people associate severe weather season with the spring, the presence of lingering tropical activity in the Atlantic basin at this time of the year often triggers these fall storms.

One of the best bits of news is that this rain may make its way to the Mississippi River Valley, helping to boost the water level in the Mississippi River. This river has been dealing with historically low water levels over the last month thanks to the ongoing drought.

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