Rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some of which can turn severe, threaten to spoil festivities across the midwestern and northeastern United States this Memorial Day holiday weekend.
While the dry weather spreads to the Northeast on Friday, a new storm will quickly converge on the western Great Lakes with rain and thunderstorms.
The main risk from thunderstorms to start Friday around Chicago will be heavy rain and lightning, which can slow down commuters and travelers looking to get an early jump on the holiday weekend.
Other dangers around Chicago, as well as all of northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and back to eastern Iowa will ramp up later in the day and evening.
Madison, Wisconsin; Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; and Rockford and Peoria, Illinois; are other cities in Friday's threat zone, which will also stretch back to Kansas and western Texas.
The strongest of the thunderstorms across this region will be capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, downpours and isolated tornadoes.
"While there can be all modes of severe weather, damaging winds will be the greatest threat as the thunderstorms initially move through Chicago on Friday evening," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.
Latest indications point toward the severe thunderstorms holding off around Chicago until after AAA anticipates when the worst time to travel during the holiday weekend will be, which is 3:30-5:30 p.m. CDT on Friday.
The severe weather risk from eastern Iowa to southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois will transition to more of a flooding danger later on Friday night, warned Sojda.
"Heavy downpours and thunderstorms will continue to track over this area through much of the night and into Saturday morning," he stated.
The repeating downpours can push already swollen streams and small rivers out of their banks with additional rises on larger rivers. Some poor drainage and urban areas can also flood.
Motorists should prepare for potential road closures, as well as reduced visibility and a heightened risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.
RELATED:
Storm-weary residents of Plains to face more violent weather into Memorial Day weekend
Lightning kills: Which outdoor activity ranks no. 1 for fatal strikes?
Southeastern US to endure lengthy streak with highs nearing 100, challenging records from a century ago
Forecasters closely monitoring the tropics for possible next storm development
Storm-weary residents of Plains to face more violent weather into Memorial Day weekend
Lightning kills: Which outdoor activity ranks no. 1 for fatal strikes?
Southeastern US to endure lengthy streak with highs nearing 100, challenging records from a century ago
Forecasters closely monitoring the tropics for possible next storm development
"Farther east, thunderstorms will arrive in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan later Friday night," according to Sojda. "Even late in the night, these thunderstorms can be severe with the tornado threat continuing."
Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Saginaw, Michigan, will be in the path of the violent thunderstorms late on Friday night. The thunderstorms may still pack a punch with downpours and gusty winds as they sweep into the Detroit area around sunrise on Saturday.
Similar to around Chicago, Sojda is concerned for an extended risk for flash flooding as downpours and thunderstorms persist over Lower Michigan into at least Saturday morning.
The risk of severe weather around the Great Lakes will focus on areas more to the south and east on Saturday.
"A new round of severe weather is expected later Saturday afternoon into the night from far southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania to northern and central Ohio and Indiana and into central Illinois," Sojda said.
AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for the threat to also expand eastward to around Syracuse, New York, and southward from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis, site of this weekend's Indy 500.
"Again, all modes of severe weather will be possible in this region, but hail and damaging winds will be the main threats," Sojda said.
While the worst of the severe weather is expected around the southern Great Lakes, showers and thunderstorms can spread over New England and the mid-Atlantic Saturday afternoon and night.
Another round of thunderstorms that may ignite around Wisconsin and Iowa later Saturday can then streak into the Northeast Saturday night into Sunday.
The good news for residents and visitors in the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast that a sweep of dry air may suppress thunderstorm activity on Memorial Day to a narrow corridor in the upper Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic.
The upper Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes, however, may face yet another bout of rain and thunderstorms threatening to spoil holiday festivities.
Even in the absence of severe weather, anyone with plans over this extended holiday weekend is reminded to seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard to avoid being struck by lightning.
Download the free AccuWeather app to know when thunderstorms are expected in your community. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
No comments:
Post a Comment