April To End With Widespread Severe Weather Threat In Midwest And Plains, Including Possible Strong Tornadoes

Plains, Midwest At Risk For Severe Storms

April's final days will be marked by a rash of severe thunderstorms targeting the Plains and Midwest. Multiple tornadoes, destructive straight-line winds, large hail and flash flooding are all potential concerns.

Forecast Timing, Threats

-Late Sunday: The storm system responsible for this multiday episode of severe weather could fire up its first storms in the High Plains – anywhere from the Dakotas to western Texas. The most likely spot for severe thunderstorms is in central Nebraska. Severe weather should be very isolated, but any supercell storms that do form could pack large hail, high winds and some tornado threat.

-Monday-Monday Night: A significant severe weather threat will develop as the storm pushes farther east, especially in the afternoon and evening. Severe weather is possible from Minnesota and Wisconsin to Oklahoma, with a corridor from southern Minnesota to Iowa, northern Missouri and eastern Kansas having the greatest likelihood. That includes cities like Minneapolis; Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City.

Tornadoes, some possibly strong (EF2 or greater damage), as well as large hail and damaging winds, are all possible threats.

Storms may start out as supercells Monday afternoon before transitioning to a squall line with embedded tornadoes Monday evening.

-Tuesday: A broad area from the eastern Great Lakes to the Ohio and mid-Mississippi valleys, Oklahoma and northern Texas could see severe weather. Wind damage, hail and an isolated tornado threat might develop across these areas, including from Dallas-Fort Worth to St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The potential for flash flooding from heavy rain is also in play.

The threat level and areas impacted could change, so be sure to check back to weather.com and The Weather Channel app for updates on this forecast for early week.

What To Do

-Next: You need to have not just one, but a few ways of receiving watches and warnings, including NOAA Weather Radio, an alert from your smartphone, and local media sources such as radio or TV.

-Don't Count On This: An outdoor siren is not a reliable way to warn you inside your home, or wake you at night. Tornado sirens are meant to warn those outdoors to seek shelter. You may live too far away from the nearest siren to hear it.

See this link for additional information on these tips, plus others that will help plan for severe weather now and in the future.

A Classic Springtime Setup

-A pronounced southward jet stream plunge will arrive in the Plains and Midwest from the West by early week.

-Those strong upper-level winds in tandem with its associated surface low-pressure system will team up with plenty of warm, humid air from the Gulf.

-This mix of ingredients is common in the spring over these regions and usually results in the formation of thunderstorms that produce severe weather of various intensities.

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.