Severe weather advisory issued for potentially devastating windstorm, resembling a hurricane, approaching certain regions in the United States
Severe Storms and Potential Derecho Threaten Northern Plains
Residents of the northern Plains are bracing for another round of severe weather, as a line of thunderstorms moves through the region. This latest bout of storms follows a weekend of severe weather events, including tornadoes and hailstorms.
Over the weekend, a cluster of severe storms and tornadoes swept through the region, resulting in numerous wind and hail reports. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota, golf ball-sized hail, downed trees, and flash flooding were reported.
Derechos, long-lived lines of severe thunderstorms producing widespread, extreme straight-line wind damage, are a rare but significant severe weather event. They are most commonly found in the central and eastern U.S., particularly during the summer months of July and early August. The Midwest and Mississippi-Ohio Valley corridor are key regions for their occurrence, due to favorable atmospheric conditions during this period.
The storms expected on Monday are predicted to bring a Level 4 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of South Dakota and Minnesota. There's a possibility that these thunderstorms could transform into a derecho, a long-lasting line of storms delivering powerful damaging wind gusts. The main threat is damaging wind, but isolated tornadoes or large hail cannot be ruled out.
Storms are already developing near the Montana-North Dakota border and will continue to grow throughout the morning, eventually moving into the Dakotas by early afternoon. The Weather Prediction Center has identified a Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain across the northern Plains. Saturated soils from weekend rain are fueling a flash flooding risk in the northern Plains, particularly in low-lying and urban zones.
The potential derecho is expected to reach its peak strength in eastern South Dakota in the late afternoon or early evening. Those in the affected areas are advised to stay indoors and monitor local weather updates for any warnings or advisories.
On Tuesday, the severe storm threat lessens to a Level 1 of 5 risk, as stormy weather shifts south and east into the central Plains and Great Lakes. However, another chance for flooding is expected in the central Plains on Tuesday.
[1] National Severe Storms Laboratory. (n.d.). Derechos. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/yourschool/field_trips/tornadoes/derechos/
[2] National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. (n.d.). Derecho. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/derecho.html
The weather forecast for the northern Plains suggests a potential derecho, a type of severe storm associated with environmental science, could unfold on Monday. This threat follows the weekend's storm events, which included numerous wind and hail reports due to severe thunderstorm activity.
