Powerful Storms to Erupt Over Northern Plains | WeatherBug
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Powerful Storms to Erupt Over Northern Plains

September 17, 2021
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Matt Mehallow
Powerful thunderstorms will rumble across parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest this evening into Friday morning. Although destructive wind gusts will be the main concern, large hail, and a brief tornado will be possible as well.

The most problematic severe weather danger zone will be found across from central Nebraska northeastward through southeastern South Dakota and much of Minnesota, though dangerous weather could spread as far east as northwest Iowa and western Wisconsin, and a tiny part of northwestern Michigan.

Driven by an area of low pressure and a strong cold front separating hot and humid from cooler, drier air, thunderstorms will erupt this evening, and some could become supercells before merging into clusters that will last into the overnight hours.

Cities such as Valentine, Neb., Sioux Falls, S.D., Duluth and Minneapolis, Minn., could be knocked around by damaging wind gusts of 60 to 75 mph, baseball size hail, and even a brief, short-lived tornado or two. Bloomington and Coon Rapids, Minn., to Sioux City, Iowa to Bessemer, Mich., will also have to keep a watchful eye to the sky for threatening weather.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for central Nebraska and south-central North Dakota, including North Platte and Valentine, Neb. Elsewhere, severe storms have prompted a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in southwestern Minnesota, incluiding Redwood Falls and St. Cloud., Minn., with a Tornado Watch active for east-central Minnesota, just north of St. Cloud, Minn., and just south of Duluth, Minn. 

Understand the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch means conditions are highly favorable for dangerous weather, and you should have a plan in place for acting. A warning means that dangerous weather has been observed, and you need to act quickly to protect life and property.
 
Remember, lightning is one of Mother Nature’s most deadly killers. If you are close enough to a storm to hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning, even if the sun is still shining.