Severe Thunderstorms to Rumble in Midwest, Northern Plains, Ohio Valley, Northeast This Week

Linda Lam
Published: July 10,2017
Severe thunderstorms will continue to erupt over parts of the Midwest, northern Plains and Northeast in classic July fashion through at least the first half of this week.
(MORE: Tornado Central | View National Interactive Radar Map)

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

Early Monday evening, a tornado briefly touched down in a field just south of Princeville, Illinois, according to a trained weather spotter. This is some 15 miles northwest of Peoria, Illinois.
Tornadoes were also reported Monday evening near Stockdale, Indiana, near Deacon, Indiana, near Roann, Indiana, and near Andrews, Indiana. Debris was observed from additional possible tornadoes near Miami, Indiana, and near Lincolnville, Indiana.
Hanna City, Illinois, clocked a 70-mph wind gust Monday evening as severe storms rumbled through.
(LATEST NEWS: Severe Storms to Continue Erupting in Midwest, Plains After Taking Deadly Turn in Texas) 
Monday afternoon, an 18-inch diameter tree branch was downed by strong thunderstorm winds on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio.
There were also reports of up to 12 inches of standing water on some roads in the area as the thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall. Interstate 71 had to be closed at 5th Avenue just north of downtown Columbus due to flooding on the highway.
Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines in Murray City, Ohio, cutting off power to the village Monday afternoon.
(MORE: Your 7-Day Severe Weather Outlook)
Below is our latest forecast thinking on the timing and magnitude of the severe threats.

Severe Weather Forecast

Tuesday

• Forecast: Portions of eastern North Dakota into Minnesota could see severe storms ahead of a new storm system. Another risk of severe thunderstorms may be found from northeast Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey into central and eastern New York and much of New England.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be the main threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible. 
• Cities: Fargo, North Dakota | Minneapolis | Boston | Portland, Maine | Albany, New York

Tuesday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Wednesday

• Forecast: As the aforementioned weather system pushes east, severe storms may flare up, once again, in the Great Lakes region. That said, uncertainty remains surrounding the exact locations that will be affected and the magnitude of this threat.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be the main threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible. 
• Cities: Detroit | Cleveland | Milwaukee | Chicago

Wednesday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Heavy rainfall will also be a concern. Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will fall on already saturated ground in many areas and could lead to flash flooding.
A widespread area of 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois into western Pennsylvania and parts of New York state through Wednesday, with locally higher amounts in some thunderstorms.

Rainfall Forecast

Setup

A low-pressure system will slide into the East through Tuesday, and this boundary will help to provide some of the lift needed to produce thunderstorms. This area of low pressure will then push off the coast Tuesday night.
Farther to the west, a separate low-pressure system will sweep from Montana into the northern Plains by midweek, bringing a risk of severe weather to those areas, as well.

There is also the potential for thunderstorm clusters, or mesoscale convective systems (MCS), to develop and persist overnight. These complexes of thunderstorms can contain very heavy rain and damaging winds.

Recap: Severe Storms, Flash Flooding in the Upper Midwest Sunday, Sunday Night

At least one tornado appeared to have touched down Sunday evening in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, north of Lake Crystal. Multiple reports of 4-inch diameter hail were received from Sibley and Nicollet counties. One home's roof was damaged in Waterville, Minnesota, while trees and power lines were downed near the town of Good Thunder.
Sunday night, flash flooding stranded some vehicles in parts of the city of Madison, Wisconsin, and flooding of some buildings was reported from over 5 inches of rain in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

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MORE: Severe Storms in the Midwest, Northeast July 7, 2017

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