Severe storms to pound US Plains during last weekend of July

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

July 27, 2018, 9:41:26 PM EDT

A combination of isolated storms and pockets of severe weather will pound portions of the Great Plains this weekend.

People spending time outdoors or on the road will need to keep an eye out for changing conditions.

Thunderstorms can occur at any point during the day and night in the weather pattern through Sunday. The most robust storms are likely during the late-day and evening hours.

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The full spectrum of severe weather is forecast for portions of the High Plains and areas farther to the east over the central and southern Plains.

The threats to lives and property will range from strong wind gusts and large hail to frequent lightning strikes, flash flooding and even isolated tornadoes.

Large hail and damaging straight-line wind gusts may accompany these storms as well. Hail larger than golf balls could occur and wind gusts may top 65 mph.

Essentially the same concentrated area from eastern Wyoming to the Oklahoma Panhandle will be at risk for damaging wind gusts, large hail and perhaps an isolated tornado from Saturday to early Saturday night and again Sunday to early Sunday night.

However, farther to the east from western South Dakota to Arkansas, spotty, isolated storms can target a few communities with hail, strong wind gusts and perhaps a brief tornado this weekend.

Much of North Dakota to Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Illinois and locations farther to the east will be free of thunderstorms this weekend.

A zone that is at an elevated risk of flash flooding extends across the central and southern High Plains to adjacent areas of the eastern slopes of the Rockies, including the Foothills in Colorado and New Mexico.

Not only will storms likely occur on a daily basis in this area, but they may occur multiple times each day over a number of consecutive hours.

Aside from the risk of flooding downpours with the storms over the Plains, some areas experiencing abnormally dry conditions to exceptional drought may get temporary relief during the pattern through this weekend.

Where a thorough soaking occurs, the risk of wildfire ignition will be significantly toned down.

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