Big Storms Rumble Across Plains, Upper Midwest | WeatherBug
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Big Storms Rumble Across Plains, Upper Midwest

September 25, 2019
UPDATED by Weatherbug Meteorologists
Fall will be nowhere in sight across parts of the nation’s midsection today. Mother Nature will deliver big summer-like thunderstorms from the central Plains into the Great Lakes.

A cold front departing the Rockies will zip across the nation's midsection and into the Midwest. Cooler and drier air behind the cold front will collide with much warmer and humid air streaming in ahead of it. This has led to dangerous storm development already in parts of the Plains from northern Texas into eastern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa.

Tornado Watches are in effect from southwestern Iowa to central Wisconsin, including the cities of Mason City, Iowa, and Wausau and Rhinelander, Wis. 

The biggest severe weather danger zone stretches from extreme eastern Nebraska into southwestern Wisconsin through tonight. Here, the Storm Prediction Center has maintained an Enhanced Risk for robust thunderstorm activity containing hail larger than golf balls, destructive wind gusts peaking near 70 mph and even a few tornadoes. Omaha, Neb., Rochester, Minn., Ames, Iowa, and Eau Claire, Wis., will have to keep a watchful eye to the sky for threatening weather.

Other places like Wichita, Kan., Des Moines, Iowa, Lincoln, Neb., and St. Paul, Minn., could be peppered by a few dangerous thunderstorms today as well. Damaging wind gusts peaking at 50 to 70 mph and hail larger than golf balls will be the primary concerns.

Be sure to understand the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch means that severe weather is possible in the watch area while a warning means that severe weather has been spotted and the warned area to seek safety.

Remember that when you hear thunder, move indoors. Even if the sun is shining you are still close enough to be struck by lightning.