Numerous severe storms popped across the country yesterday from the South into the Central Plains and further east into the Mid-Atlantic. We’re taking a look back at the severe weather yesterday, as well as the severe weather threat to end the week and the ongoing flooding threat.
Recap Of Wednesday Severe Weather
Between 8 AM ET Wednesday to 2 AM ET Thursday, National Weather Service offices across the country issued 220 severe thunderstorm warnings across thirteen states and 18 tornado warnings across parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Indiana.
There were ~300 storm reports yesterday across the central and eastern portions of the country, with almost 200 hail reports alone. The largest hail stones were reported in Sullivan, MO (4″ hail) and Moon, KY (3″ hail).
A total of ten tornadoes were reported Wednesday, mainly across south central Kansas.
More Severe To End The Week
A multi-day severe weather event will continue today from the Ohio Valley into parts of the South, with storms spreading into the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Friday. Meanwhile, the northern side of the storm could put out some snow in parts of Michigan and Wisconsin.
[TRACK THE STORMS: Interactive Radar]
Here is the severe threat for today – a widespread threat from Texas all the way into the lower Great Lakes. In the orange is an enhanced area of severe weather, surrounded by a slight risk in yellow. In the afternoon hours, there will be the potential for some supercell storms that could produce a few tornadoes, however large hail and damaging winds will also be possible. As we head into the evening and overnight, a line of storms ahead of the cold front will form, with damaging wind and some large hail the main threat.
[CITIES UNDER THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT: Chicago – Indianapolis – Louisville – St. Louis – Little Rock – Dallas]
As we head into Friday, the severe chances shift south and east along with the cold front, and a slight risk of severe weather is in place from Philadelphia down through Charlotte, Mobile and into Texas. Damaging winds and large hail would be the main threat with any severe storms we see on Friday.
[CITIES UNDER THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT: Philadelphia – Charlotte – Atlanta – New Orleans – Houston]
Flooding Concerns Continue As Well
Check out the precipitation from the South into Ohio Valley over the past 60 days – many locations have seen 10″+ of liquid! So far this year, Louisville has seen 19.07″ of precipitation in 2015, a good 7.49″ above average for this time of year! It’s easy to see how some of these areas are seeing flooding risks with even just an inch of rain in a short period of time.
The threat of heavy rain continues a flooding threat across parts of the Ohio Valley into the South. Here is expected rainfall over the next five days – parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas could pick up over 4″ of rain by next Tuesday!
This is how much rain is needed within a three hour period for flash flooding to occur, based off of current soil moisture conditions. Red areas would need about an inch or less, areas in yellow between about 1.5-2″, and green areas between 2-3″ of rain. Some of these areas, particularly in the Ohio Valley, would need much less within an hour for flash flooding to occur, and just like yesterday we could see that occur again.
[MAP: Latest Watches, Warnings, and Advisories]
Here is the area that the Weather Prediction Center has highlighted that rainfall rates could exceed the flash flood guidance. Areas as far north as Green Bay could see heavy, flooding rains through the afternoon and evening hours.
Have a great rest of your week – you’re almost to Friday!
Meteorologist D.J. Kayser
Find me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) or on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser)