Severe Storms Target the Plains This Weekend A significant weather event is expected to unfold across the central and southern Plains this weekend, with the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center have issued alerts for parts of Texas, New Mexico, and neighboring regions, highlighting the need for preparedness as the severe weather season intensifies. The storm system is driven by a large high-pressure system developing over the Southeastern United States, which is drawing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the southern Plains. Simultaneously, drier air is moving northeastward from northwestern Mexico, creating a collision of contrasting air masses. This dynamic, combined with strong winds at higher altitudes, is expected to generate scattered severe thunderstorms across the southern High Plains today and into the evening. The Storm Prediction Center has already designated a Slight Risk, or a 2 out of 5 on the severe weather probability scale, for western Texas and eastern New Mexico. Cities such as Lubbock, Midland, and Fort Stockton in Texas are under threat for damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Additionally, a few gusty thunderstorms may develop across the central Rockies into the central Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. Denver, Wichita, Omaha, Des Moines, and Minneapolis are at risk for stronger thunderstorms later today and into the night. The severe weather threat is not limited to today. On Sunday, the Storm Prediction Center has already issued a Slight Risk for portions of central and western Texas to central Kansas. Cities like Abilene, Texas, Oklahoma City, and Wichita, Kansas, could experience storms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes.#national_weather_service #storm_prediction_center #lubbock #midland #fort_stockton
Severe Thunderstorms, Including Tornadoes, Ahead For Plains, Midwest Severe weather, including tornadoes, is expected to intensify across the Plains and Midwest this weekend, with the threat spreading to the upper Midwest by next week. The pattern aligns with typical conditions for April, a month historically prone to severe thunderstorms featuring hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. The National Weather Service has issued alerts for multiple days of scattered severe storms, with the highest risk zones identified in specific regions. The primary threat zones include western Texas and extreme eastern New Mexico, where thunderstorms or clusters could produce large hail and damaging wind gusts. Cities such as Lubbock, Midland, and Del Rio are highlighted as being in the highest risk category. Additionally, stronger storms are possible as far north as western Wisconsin, with strong wind gusts and hail as the main threats. Isolated tornadoes could develop from potential supercell thunderstorms in these areas. The severe weather threat extends from the Southern Plains to the upper Midwest, with cities like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Wichita, Kansas, facing the greatest chance of storms. If supercell thunderstorms form, tornadoes are possible, though the likelihood remains uncertain. Otherwise, thunderstorm clusters pose a risk of very large hail and damaging wind gusts, particularly in darker shaded areas on the forecast map. The upper Mississippi Valley and central Texas are also under heightened risk, with large hail and wind gusts expected in these regions. The National Weather Service warns that while the exact details of the storm activity remain uncertain, the general forecast indicates a prolonged severe weather period.#national_weather_service #lubbock #western_texas #extreme_eastern_new_mexico #midland
