Some 70 million Americans are at risk of severe thunderstorms from Nebraska through much of the Southern Plains and Midwest from Monday through Wednesday.
The big picture: The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms for much of Kansas and Nebraska on Monday, with severe weather also likely in coastal Virginia.
On Sunday evening, a line of damaging severe thunderstorms struck much of Pennsylvania.
On Monday afternoon, severe thunderstorms with half-dollar-sized hail blew through the D.C. suburbs in northern Virginia, and those storms subsequently took aim at Richmond.
Context: While it does not get the same amount of attention as tornadoes do, large hail can cause large economic losses from damaged cars, homes and crops.
State of play: Showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop across the Great Plains on Monday afternoon and the severe weather threat was expected to continue Monday night, “when scattered to severe thunderstorms are likely to initiate across the Southern to Central Great Plains,” per the SPC.
Highs in the 80s and even 90s will be widespread across the severe weather region, and in fact throughout an even broader area, the NWS stated.
Flashback: Pittsburgh streets flooded as severe storms threaten Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
From Monday through Wednesday, about 70 million Americans could experience severe thunderstorms, extending from Nebraska across most of the Southern Plains and Midwest.
Overall, severe thunderstorms are expected throughout much of Kansas and Nebraska on Monday, with coastal Virginia also likely to experience severe weather, according to the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service.
Much of Pennsylvania was hit by a line of severe thunderstorms that caused damage on Sunday evening. Although the severe weather season normally begins in April in most of the U.S. s. this was unusually early for a line of storms to the north and east that would cause such damage.
Severe thunderstorms with hail the size of half a dollar passed over the D.C on Monday afternoon. suburbs in northern Virginia, and then those storms moved on to Richmond.
Big, destructive hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes are more likely to occur from Texas northward into Nebraska through Monday night, when watches are in place.
Context: Although big hail does not receive the same attention as tornadoes, it can result in significant financial losses due to damage to crops, cars, and houses.
These losses were exceptionally high in the U.S. last year. s. billion-dollar losses to insurers.
State of play: According to the SPC, “scattered to severe thunderstorms are likely to initiate across the Southern to Central Great Plains,” showers and thunderstorms were predicted to develop across the Great Plains on Monday afternoon. The severe weather threat was predicted to persist Monday night.
Consequently, western Oklahoma and portions of northwest Texas have an increased risk of severe storms, according to the NWS, “due in part to the threat of large to very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes.”. “.
The entire Great Plains were under a level 2/5 slight risk.
Tuesday is predicted to bring with it a shift in the direction of severe weather threats, with showers and thunderstorms moving into the Mississippi Valley as part of the warm sector of a deep Great Plains storm that is intensifying.
Between the lines: As moisture and warmth accelerate northward ahead of an area of low pressure, unusually warm air temperatures—roughly 20°F above average—have engulfed the Plains, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted that highs in the 80s and even 90s will be common throughout the severe weather region and actually farther afield.
What we’re keeping an eye on: The SPC stated in its talks that the precise scope and intensity of the tornado risk in particular was uncertain because Monday and Tuesday appeared to have some, but not all, of the components necessary for a widespread severe weather outbreak, which would eventually move eastward from Nebraska into Texas.
In summary, studies indicate that precipitation extremes are becoming more frequent and larger due to climate change.
Furthermore, it is increasing the likelihood, severity, and duration of heat waves.
Flashback: Severe storms threaten Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions, causing streets in Pittsburgh to flood.
The author has added new information throughout the article.
