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Powerful Storms Erupt Across Central & Eastern U.S.
May 27, 2019
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Fred Allen
Parts of the eastern U.S. and the nation’s midsection will have a hard time dodging dangerous weather today. Destructive winds, large hail, even a few strong tornadoes and heavy rain will be possible.
A stalled front will budge little across the nation’s midsection today. Very warm and moist air anchored south of the front will clash with colder, drier air behind it. Ultimately, the two meeting up are beginning to trigger big thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
The most significant severe weather danger zone is from the Texas Panhandle to western Kansas. This is where the government’s Storm Prediction Center has maintained a Moderate Risk for a severe storm outbreak later today into tonight. Amarillo, Texas, to Liberal, Garden City and Colby, Kan., will need to keep a watchful eye to the sky for powerful thunderstorms. In this area, the more robust thunderstorms will likely pack hail as large as baseballs, destructive wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph and several tornadoes, a few potentially intense.
McCook, Neb., to Woodward, Okla., and Lubbock, Texas, may see similar destructive storm development as well. Here, the government’s Storm Prediction Center has maintained an Enhanced Risk. Even outside of this zone, powerful thunderstorms with all severe weather hazards will be possible from Texas’ Big Bend to the far eastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana Plains today.
Tornado Watches stretch from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles to western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Dalhart, Texas, Denver, Trinidad and La Junta, Colo., and Garden City and Goodland, Kan., are included within the watch boxes. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in place from central Kansas to south-central Nebraska, including Grand Island, Neb., and Russell and Dodge City, Kan.
Although not a severe storm outbreak like parts of the Plains, many from the Lower Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic will have to contend with plenty of turbulent weather as well. Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, Charleston, W. Va., Roanoke, Va., Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia could all see high winds and large hail within any thunderstorm that develops today.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in place from western Maryland and the West Virginia Panhandle to the northern Delmarva Peninsula. This includes the Baltimore and Washington metro areas, as well as Wilmington and Dover, Del. Another Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in place from eastern Kentucky to central West Virginia, including Hazard, Ky., and Charleston, W. Va.
The thunderstorms will also be accompanied by torrential rainfall in a short time, especially across parts of the central and south-central Plains. With many spots across the nation’s midsection plagued by recent heavy rain resulting in flash flooding, additional totals of 1 to 3 inches will only exacerbate and add to any ongoing flooding. Flood and Flash Flood Advisories, Watches and Warnings remain in place from the Texas Panhandle to far southern Nebraska as well as from northern Nebraska to southeastern Montana. Amarillo, Texas, Woodward, Okla., Manhattan and Topeka, Kan., Valentine, Neb., Rapid City, S.D., and Gillette and Casper, Wyo.
Remember, if you encounter water-covered roadway, be sure to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” because the water could be much deeper than it appears. It takes just 6 inches of fast-moving water to sweep away an adult and only a foot of rushing water to carry away most cars.
Today’s cold front will finally budge on Memorial Day, but it will bring a new round of severe weather and heavy rain to the central Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley into the Midwest.
Keep in mind that lightning is one of Mother Nature's most dangerous killers. “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” because if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning, even if the sun is shining.