Severe Weather on Tap for Plains Midwest

Forecasters are warning that a very moisture-laden storm system will be taking shape in the western part of the US that will head into the Plains and Midwest this weekend. This system is expected to produce very spring-like weather that will drop heavy rainfall. By Saturday late afternoon, thunderstorms are expected to roll into the Plains, accompanied by damaging winds, hail and a threat of tornadoes. Some of those storms are expected to be severe.

Highs Saturday could soar into the 70s and maybe even the low 80s in many portions of the Plains and Midwest. After the very hard winter folks in that part of the country have endured, temperatures that warm are very welcomed to say the least. However, after Saturday, the temperatures are expected to plunge once again wherein highs on Sunday will be in the mid 50s and by Monday, the mid 40s. Then again on Tuesday, things will start warming up again. Forecasters are telling people that outdoor activities should be planned for Saturday but that people should keep an eye on the skies as there could be some severe thunderstorms forming.

Raincoats and umbrellas might be in order for those living in parts of Wisconsin Saturday including the Madison area. The National Weather Service says that showers and thunderstorms could occur most of the weekend so outdoor activities there could be rained out. The Madison area could get up to two inches of rain this weekend which is good news for fire departments watching out for wildfires. The rain that’s expected to fall in the southern portion of Wisconsin this weekend could take a dramatic turn Sunday night and turn to snow heading into Monday.

Forecasters in Michigan are telling people that the start of the weekend will be nice and warm with highs quickly climbing into the upper 60s. However, rainfall is expected to hit the Great Lakes state Saturday afternoon through Monday. The NWS in Grand Rapids has put Allegan and Ottawa counties under a flood watch from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning as showers and thunderstorms with rainfall in excess of two inches is possible. Because the ground is already moisture-laden, any rain falling will run off into streams and rivers that are already above normal due to spring melting and above average snowfall.

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