Severe Weather the Story for Sunday in the Central and Southern Plains

Posted: March 14, 2021 1:21 am

While the Rocky Mountain region has been buried in snow this weekend in a monster snow storm, it feels like spring with severe weather just to the east of this wintry mix.

What is on Tap to Close Out the Weekend: Millions of Americans are going to be dealing with the threat of severe weather on Sunday. The same system that has dumped snow over Colorado and beyond is now bringing severe storms and heavy rain to eastern sections of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. It is going to be a soggy and stormy mess for much of this region of the central and southern Plains.

Why the Threat of Thunderstorms: The clash of winter and spring is setting the stage for Sunday’s severe weather. The system will track toward the east throughout the weekend. As it does so, it will bring up warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This air mass will clash with the dry and cool air coming up from the Southwest, creating the perfect conditions for severe weather. The addition of strong winds will provide even more fuel for the storms to get going.

While the threat of severe weather on Saturday was centered in areas such as Oklahoma City and Lubbock and Abilene, Texas, that danger will continue pushing to the east throughout the day Sunday. By the end of the weekend, the biggest threats will be centered over eastern Oklahoma and Texas, stretching as far east as the Mississippi River.

Cities in the red zone for severe weather on Sunday include Little Rock, St. Louis, and Houston. Those in the path should be ready for drenching rain and strong winds.

Forecasters are warning those in the path of these storms to be prepared for a major hail event. Although it is not likely that tornadoes pop up this early in the season, it is still a possibility. People in the affected areas should closely monitor weather reports throughout the day so that they are not caught off guard. All loose outdoor furniture should also be secured.

Travel Disruptions: Anyone with travel plans on Sunday should check conditions before heading out. Interstates 20, 30, 35, and 40 may all be difficult to traverse at times throughout the day. In addition to the heavy rains, downed trees and power lines could make travel challenging on secondary roadways. Isolated power outages are also possible with this storm.

Flooding Possible to the North of the Severe Weather: To the north of the severe weather line, some areas may see destructive flooding because of the slow-moving rain. Some parts of eastern Kansas and southern Missouri may have to deal with over four inches of rain spread out over just a few days.

The good news is that a dry air mass will push into the region on Monday, bringing calmer conditions.

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