Early Preparations

Severe Storms to Threaten Oklahoma, Surrounding States

Tornadoes will be the biggest danger with this system

BY ACCUWEATHER

A major outbreak of severe thunderstorms is possible beginning Wednesday across the central and southern Plains. This could be one of the worst outbreaks of the year.

Cities with the greatest potential for severe weather include Oklahoma City, Okla., Tulsa, Okla., Norman, Okla., Broken Arrow, Okla., Joplin, Mo., and Coffeyville, Kan., to name a few.

Dangerous severe thunderstorms are expected to develop during the early to mid-afternoon hours and continue well into the evening.

As northerly winds and much colder, drier air clash with southerly winds and much warmer and moist air, a twisting motion of the lower atmosphere will be the result.

Tornadoes will be the biggest danger with these storms. While not every storm will produce a tornado, those that do have the possibility to contain long-tracking strong or even violent tornadoes.

Extremely large hail the size of baseballs or softballs is also possible across these areas. Hail of this size can kill exposed livestock and cause extreme damage to vehicles, homes and other buildings. Hailstones of this size can also severely injure or kill people as well.

In addition to tornadoes and very large hail, wind gusts associated with these storms could exceed 60 mph and, in some cases, reach speeds of up to 70 or 80 mph. Blowing dust, snapped or uprooted trees and damaged power poles are possible.

On Thursday, the severe weather threat will develop farther south and east as a potent cold front tracks across the southern Plains, overtaking a warm, humid air mass.

Thunderstorms will be ongoing Thursday morning from eastern Oklahoma through central Texas before spreading into the lower Mississippi River Valley Thursday afternoon and evening.
This threat Thursday will expand from Dallas and Austin, Texas, eastward to Springfield, Mo., Little Rock, Ark., and Shreveport, La., by the afternoon and evening hours.

Similar to what happened late last week, a large squall line could track across this region Thursday, bringing a widespread threat for wind damage. In addition, thunderstorms that pop up ahead of the main line could produce isolated tornadoes.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists are also concerned about a threat for flash flooding across the middle Mississippi River Valley and some of its tributaries Thursday as torrential downpours accompany the thunderstorms.

AccuWeather.com expert senior meteorologist Jim Andrews stated, "The Mississippi River at St. Louis just crested at 6 feet below flood stage and an additional 1-3 inches of rain could lead to the river rising above flood stage."

Stay tuned to AccuWeather.com through early next week as we continue to monitor the potential for severe weather and river flooding.

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