The centralUSis bracing for what could be a potentially dangerous end to the weekend as forecasters track the threat ofsevere weatheron Sunday, including the potential for aderechothat could sweep across portions ofKansasandOklahomawith destructivewindgusts higher than 100 mph and baseball-sizedhail.
This comes on the heels of another deadly derecho that barreled acrossTexasandLouisianaon Thursday, blasting theHoustonmetro area with winds up to 100 mph thatleft at least seven people dead and more than 1 million customers without power.
Severe Thunderstorm Watcheswere issued Sunday afternoon for several states in the central US from South Dakota to Texas.
The watch that covers parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas was designated a“Particularly Dangerous Situation”by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, emphasizing the dire nature of the storms that are forecast to develop in that area.
The watch includesSterlingin Colorado, as well asNorth Platte,ValentineandScottsbluffin Nebraska.
Rapid City,PierreandEagle Buttein South Dakota have also been included.
Sunday marks the beginning of a multiday, multistate severe weather threat that is expected to impact millions of people from the Plains to theMidwestthrough at least Tuesday, although the threat of severe weather will continue in the central US through at least the middle of this upcoming workweek.
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NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) increased the severe weather threat on Sunday and is focusing on central Kansas, where the threat of destructive wind gusts and large hail is highest.
The threat will expand to the east Monday and Tuesday, putting tens of millions of people in the Plains and Midwest at risk of seeingextreme weather.
Potential derecho could blast central US today
The SPC said severethunderstormsare expected to fire up across portions of Kansas and Oklahoma starting in the late afternoon and lasting into the evening hours, which includes the potential for a derecho.
“Destructive wind swaths of 80-100 mph may occur, with localized extreme wind gusts exceeding 100 mph possible,” theSPC saidin its forecast discussion. “Very large hail and a fewtornadoesare also anticipated.”
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Because of the threat, the SPC placed nearly 570,000 people in Kansas in a Level 4 out of 5 risk on its5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
This includesDodge City,Great Bend,Salinaand areas just to the north ofWichita.
The severe weather threat isn’t limited to those areas, however.
The SPC also placed about 850,000 people in Kansas and portions of northwestern Oklahoma in a Level 3 out of 5 risk.
This threat includesTopeka, Wichita andHaysin Kansas, as well asWoodwardin Oklahoma.
Life-threateninglightning, tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and large hail will all be possible from any severe thunderstorms that develop in the region on Sunday.
And while there is a tornado threat across portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, forecasters said they’re much more concerned for the threat of destructive wind gusts andbaseball-sized hail.
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The SPC said there is a higher risk on Sunday for the development ofsupercellthunderstorms that could form into abow echoas they sweep across the region.
“Now, we’ll watch for the damaging winds,” FOX Weather MeteorologistCraig Herrerasaid. “And when we’re talking damaging winds, you’re talking wind gusts 75 mph or greater. You think of sustained winds from ahurricaneare 74 mph. These are gusts, but a gust that quick and that fast at 75 mph or greater can still do some damage.”
And some of these thunderstorms on Sunday could produce wind gusts as strong as aCategory 2 hurricane.
The SPC said there could be swaths of 80-100 mph wind gusts, with localized areas reaching gusts higher than 100 mph.
Monday’s severe weather threat
There are now two areas of concern for severe weather on Monday.
The SPC has placed just over 17 million people in a Level 2 out of 5 risk, which includes portions of Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas,MissouriandIowa, as well as portions ofIllinois,IndianaandWisconsinin the Midwest.
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The cities ofNorfolk,Omaha,LincolnandMcCookin Nebraska are all included in the risk, whileDes Moinesin Iowa is just outside that Level 2 threat.
Kansas Cityin Missouri is also included in the Level 2 threat on Monday.
MilwaukeeandChicagohave also been placed in a Level 2 out of 5 risk on Monday.
Thunderstorms that develop in the Plains and Midwest will all be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail and possible tornadoes.
Tuesday’s severe weather threat
The SPC issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather on Tuesday, which includes more than 9.5 million people.
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This threat will have people in seven states from the Plains to the Midwest on alert for storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail and possible tornadoes.
And while those areas will see a greater severe thunderstorm threat on Tuesday, more than 31.5 million people in areas stretching from Oklahoma toMichiganhave been placed in a Level 2 out of 5 risk.
This Level 2 risk includes the cities ofOklahoma CityandTulsain Oklahoma,St. Louisin Missouri, Chicago inIllinois,MinneapolisinMinnesotaand Milwaukee andGreen BayinWisconsin.
