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Severe Storms Set To Expand Across North-Central Plains

August 9, 2020
UPDATED By WeatherBug's Chris Sayles
Potent thunderstorms threaten a large swath of the north-central Plains tonight. Destructive wind gusts and large hail are the main threats, but isolated tornadoes are also possible.

The same front that sparked dangerous storms Friday evening in the eastern Dakotas and Minnesota is sagging south through the central Plains tonight. Warm, humid air funneling from the Gulf of Mexico will clash with cooler, drier air sweeping from the northern High Plains into the central Plains. Thus, fresh storms are expected from western Nebraska to perhaps eastern Wisconsin.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for portions of northeast Nebraska and eastern South Dakota until early Sunday morning. Damaging wind gusts to 80 mph are possible, along with large hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter.

Storms will develop east of the Rockies along Interstate 25 before pushing southeast this evening. The greatest chance for severe weather is focused from north-central Nebraska to eastern South Dakota, where the Storm Prediction Center has an Enhanced Risk for robust thunderstorms tonight. 

Valentine, Norfolk and Lincoln, Neb., and Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, S.D., are most at risk for damaging wind gusts in excess of 57 mph and large hail. Outside of this bullseye for severe storms, Omaha, Neb., Minneapolis and Milwaukee will have to keep an eye to the sky for potent evening thunderstorms.

Large hail and gusty winds blew through North Dakota and northern Minnesota to conclude the work week. Beulah and New Salem, N.D., Dorset and Nevis, Minn., and Keldron, S.D., are just a few spots that saw severe weather late Friday. 

Make sure you know the difference between a watch and warning if they are issued. A “Severe Thunderstorm Watch” means that severe weather conditions are possible, and you should be on alert for rapid storm development. However, a “Severe Thunderstorm Warning” means that severe weather is imminent, and you need to act fast to protect life.

Lightning is one of Mother Nature’s most deadly threats. If you can hear thunder, then you are at risk of being struck. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”