A Threat of Severe Storms Possible Later Today and Tonight!

It is about to feel a lot more like May this week around the viewing area! A warm front will track through the region today, and this will lead to very mild air.  We did hit 80 degrees on Saturday, and more 80s could be on the way this week with a more summer-like pattern taking shape.  With 80s and summer talk, the muggy air grabs hold as well.  Dew points, the measure of moisture in the atmosphere, will jump into the 60s.  Anything over 60 for the dew point, and it starts to feel sticky outside. 

With the warm front slicing through the area today, showers and thunderstorms will be possible.  Since we are talking about a more summer-like air mass, some of these storms that fire up later today could turn strong to severe.  The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded our area to an "enhanced" risk of severe weather, which earlier was only a marginal risk. The main risk with this complex is high winds with computer models showing a "bowing" structure, usually indicating a high wind event.  Other threats could also be large hail, isolated tornadoes, heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.  The high-resolution models are showing a line of thunderstorms moving in this afternoon and evening, and more scattered showers and storms late tonight and early Tuesday. 

Cooler air starts to move in and the warm air retreats by the end of the week along a cold front.  Highs stay in the 70s into Thursday, but 60s will return for Friday and this weekend.  There could be more showers at the tail end of the forecast.

Share this article: