Severe storms to pulse through north-central US into Monday evening

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

The start of the week will bring another round of severe thunderstorms erupting over the north-central United States.

After severe weather targeted North Dakota on Sunday night, damaging thunderstorms will shift southeastward into Monday night, putting communities from Nebraska to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the potential path of these storms.

"Cities within this zone include Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin; Rochester, Minnesota; Sioux City and Des Moines, Iowa; and Omaha, Nebraska," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

Residents and visitors in these and surrounding areas should keep a close eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions, especially those spending time outside.

"Some of the strongest thunderstorms can produce flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail," AccuWeather Meteorologist Max Vido said. An isolated tornado or two is also possible.

The winds can be high enough to snap trees and power lines and leave some neighborhoods without power.

Torrential downpours will reduce visibility on the roadways and create a heightened risk of vehicles hydroplaning while traveling at highway speeds. Motorists along stretches of interstates 29, 35, 39, 80, 90 and 94, can face these hazards.

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Remember that any thunderstorm, regardless of its severity, can produce potentially deadly lightning strikes. Seek shelter indoors or in a metal, hard-top vehicle as soon as thunder is heard or dark clouds threaten.

"Thunder is nature's warning that you are close enough to be struck by lightning," Pydynowski said.

As the North Central states catch a breather from severe weather on Tuesday, the thunderstorms will continue to march eastward.

Only a handful of thunderstorms may turn damaging on Tuesday, with many more bringing torrential downpours that can trigger localized flash flooding.

Travel and outdoor plans can be disrupted from Toronto to Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis and St. Louis as the stormy weather rolls through. The heavy thunderstorms will reach the Northeast later Tuesday into Wednesday.

Download the free AccuWeather app to receive severe weather alerts for your location as soon as they are issued. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.