KANSAS CITY, MO – Residents across the Central U.S. are being urged to prepare for a multi-day severe weather outbreak beginning Saturday. Forecasters warn that the threat—including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds—will intensify through early next week, stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes.
The Weekend Forecast: Saturday and Sunday
The severe weather “peak” begins on Saturday afternoon. Meteorologists are tracking a dryline—a boundary of hot, dry air and moist Gulf air—that will likely trigger scattered supercell thunderstorms.
- Primary Targets (Saturday): Kansas City, Omaha, and Wichita.
- Main Threats: Large hail and wind gusts reaching severe limits.
- Overnight Risk: Storms are expected to form into clusters, impacting Iowa and Missouri late into Saturday night.
By Sunday, the threat shifts slightly north and east. Cities like Minneapolis and Des Moines are in the crosshairs for a widespread round of thunderstorms. While hail and wind remain the primary concerns, officials warn that isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out during the afternoon and evening hours.
Monday: The Most Dangerous Day?
Current models suggest Monday, May 18, could see the most widespread and intense activity of the week. The risk zone expands significantly, potentially covering a massive corridor from Texas all the way to Upper Michigan.
Residents in these areas should prepare for:
- Potentially long-track tornadoes.
- Flooding rainfall due to repeated rounds of storms.
- Widespread power outages from damaging straight-line winds.
Why May is So Volatile
We are currently in the peak month for tornado activity in the U.S. Experts note that all four “ingredients” for a major outbreak are currently in place: strong wind shear from the jet stream, lifting from passing cold fronts, high instability from daily heating, and deep moisture surging from the Gulf of Mexico.
Stay Weather Aware
The exact timing and intensity of these storms may shift as the weekend approaches. Local emergency management agencies recommend having multiple ways to receive alerts, including weather apps and NOAA radios, especially for storms that may occur overnight.
