…Severe Weather and Excessive Rainfall concerns for parts of the
Central/Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley…
…Critical Fire Weather potential over portions of the Southern High
Plains today…
…Cool and snowy in the Northwest; above average temperatures continue
across much of the Central and Eastern U.S….
The month of May kicks off with severe weather and excessive rainfall
threats over the Central U.S.. A developing low pressure system over the
Central High Plains of Colorado will contribute to the initiation of
scattered to isolated thunderstorms across the Great Plains today. The
Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of Severe
Thunderstorms over parts of southwest Kansas into northwest Oklahoma this
afternoon into the evening. A few tornadoes, very large hail and damaging
winds are expected for the broader Central/Southern Plains region. The
surface wave will lift into the Central Plains this evening and support
enhanced rain rates over parts of northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and
western Iowa, where a Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall is
in effect. Thunderstorms (some potentially severe) originating from a
dryline in the Southern High Plains will grow as they propagate into a
very moist environment in central and eastern Texas today. Given the
saturated soils from recent heavy rainfall, a Moderate Risk (at least 40%)
of Excessive Rainfall is in effect for portions of eastern Texas in
between the Dallas and Houston metros this evening. Elsewhere, showers and
thunderstorms should wrap up this afternoon across the Carolina/Southeast
coast.
Severe storms and excessive rainfall threats shift into the Mississippi
Valley on Thursday as the low pressure system moves into the region.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will proliferate across the
Central/Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley, where a Slight Risk of
Excessive Rainfall is in effect. The MCS associated with tonight’s
excessive rainfall threat will shift into the ArkLaTex region Thursday
morning. An upper trough anchored over the Northwest will support below
average temperatures across the region for the next few days. With cold
air in place, an embedded shortwave impulse will contribute to high
elevation snow across the Cascades and Northern Rockies. Between 6-12
inches of snow is forecast to accumulate with isolated higher amounts most
likely over northwestern Montana by Friday morning. Temperatures will
remain above average, for the most part, across the eastern half of the
country through Friday before a cold front moderates things a bit heading
into the weekend.
Kebede
Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php
