By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
The risk for potentially damaging thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes will expand from Montana to the Dakotas through Monday. The threat will also expand northward into Canada and down to around Denver.
"A seasonable summer pattern in place along the Front Range and High Plains will yield another round of strong-to-severe thunderstorms," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
Violent thunderstorms erupted at the start of the weekend in portions of Montana and Wyoming.
AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer intercepted a large tornado 12 miles northwest of Laramie, Wyoming, on Saturday evening.
The weekend will end with more thunderstorms rumbling and threatening to disrupt outdoor plans and hiking trips.
The greatest threats for severe weather will target a large swath of Montana and southern Saskatchewan through Sunday evening.
The threat zone will stretch from Great Falls, Bozeman and Billings, Montana, to Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
A separate area of severe weather is expected from eastern Colorado to western parts of Nebraska and Kansas.
Damaging winds, large hail and downpours will remain the greatest risks the strongest thunderstorms pose. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
"The hail can dent or crack windshields of vehicles not put in garages or under car ports," according to Buckingham.
Motorists planning to travel on stretches of interstates 15, 70, 76 and 90 will have to remain alert for winds that can overturn high-profile vehicles and poor visibility. Standing water can heighten the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.
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Downloading the free AccuWeather app and enabling severe weather alerts is a great way to know when violent thunderstorms are approaching your community.
Even without the threat of damaging winds and hail, any thunderstorm will produce deadly lightning. Be sure to seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard.
Picnic pavilions, golf carts and trees offer no protection from lightning strikes.
The severe weather threat is expected to shift eastward on Monday, stretching from the Dakotas to southeastern Montana and northeastern Colorado on Monday afternoon and evening.
Communities from near Billings, Montana, and Denver to Rapid City, South Dakota, and Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, will be at risk for violent storms at the start of the week.
The severe weather may extend as far north as Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Similar to Sunday, damaging winds, large hail and downpours will be the most common characteristics of these storms during the afternoon and evening. However, isolated tornadoes are also possible.
Overnight, the thunderstorms may congeal together and bring an extended period of heavy rain to parts of the Dakotas. Flash flooding dangers can arise.
Between the severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, motorists may face poor driving conditions on sections of interstates 29, 76, 90 and 94.
Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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