'Ring of Fire' Weather Pattern Will Scorch Southern Plains as Thunderstorms Rumble Across the Nation's Northern Tier

Ring of Fire Storms

Multiple impulses of energy in the upper atmosphere will pivot around the northern periphery of the south-central U.S. high-pressure system into late-week. Those pockets of energy will provide upward motion in the atmosphere, leading to the development of showers and thunderstorms in the northern Plains and Midwest.

The thunderstorms may turn severe in some areas with damaging winds and large hail being the primary threats, though isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Localized pockets of flash flooding could also develop if any thunderstorm clusters stall out.

Here's where the highest chance of severe weather is anticipated into midweek.

• Tuesday: Strong to severe storms are possible in the northern Plains, including the Dakotas, western Minnesota, Montana and northern Wyoming.
• Wednesday: Parts of the upper Midwest and northern and central Plains could see scattered severe storms.
• Late-week: Additional storms, possibly severe, will impact the northern Plains and Midwest Thursday and/or Friday, but details remain uncertain.