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Towns Hit By Tornado Outbreak Face More Severe Weather Threats This Week
April 29, 2024
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – April 29, 2024
Several fatalities were unfortunately reported in Iowa and Oklahoma over the past few days of severe weather outbreaks. More than 550 storm reports were received for destructive tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say that although the severe weather threats this week may not cause as much widespread destruction as what occurred on April 26 and 27, the rounds of severe storms can still bring heavy rain, lightning, hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes. This stormy pattern could complicate clean up and recovery efforts.
“The threat of severe weather is not over yet. There’s no rest for the weary, unfortunately,” said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. “It’s important to note that we don’t think the severe weather is going to be as extreme as we go through the rest of this week, but it is an area to watch from the Plains toward the Midwest. The main threats are going to be damaging wind and hail, but isolated tornadoes are possible.”
Timing Of Severe Weather Threats
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say the first storm system will quickly swing from the central Plains to the Upper Midwest from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Storms could pack hail, wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes near Omaha, Des Moines, and Kansas City on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The threat of severe weather on Tuesday stretches from west Texas to southern Minnesota.
The second round of storms this week will impact areas from the central Rockies on Wednesday before pivoting northward over the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
The threat of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday stretches more than 900 miles from central Nebraska and southern Iowa to west Texas.
“There will be a heightened tornado risk on Wednesday across Oklahoma and into Kansas,” said Rayno. “I’m worried about the Interstate 35 corridor, Salina and Wichita, Kansas to Oklahoma City, even toward Wichita Falls, Texas. We could see a dozen tornadoes on Wednesday with this setup.”
The severe weather threats will extend east on Thursday, stretching from Texas to Minnesota, and across a major swath of the central U.S. to the Mississippi River.
Hail and damaging wind gusts are the main severe weather threats on Thursday, but AccuWeather expert meteorologists say isolated tornadoes are also possible.
Rounds of downpours and storms could lead to flash flooding in areas where the ground is already saturated after recent storms.
Preparing For Storms In Disaster Zones
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say emergency relief groups, first responders, contractors, volunteers, and insurance adjusters working in trailers, tents, and mobile command posts in areas impacted by recent tornadoes need to be prepared for the threat of more severe weather this week.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said accurate forecasts, public awareness, and tornado warnings with extended lead time helped save lives during the recent tornado outbreak.
“With all of the technology and science innovations in recent decades, the improvements in radar, and the rapid distribution of weather warnings to mobile devices such as through the AccuWeather app, we believe that dozens of lives were saved in this outbreak. Even 15 years ago, the death toll would have been far higher in this scenario because intense tornadoes struck populated places,” said Porter. “While there were tragically fatalities from these storms, so many lives were saved because of early warnings and people taking action based on those warnings. It is a very vivid reminder about the importance of moving to safe shelter quickly any time a tornado warning is issued for your community – this tornado outbreak once again proves that taking such action can save your life.”
AccuWeather expert meteorologists encourage families and businesses across the country to be prepared for severe weather threats.
Tornado activity in the United States typically peaks in the late spring and early summer months, but tornadoes can happen at any time of year with the right atmospheric conditions.
AccuWeather’s 2024 U.S. Tornado Forecast calls for 1,250 to 1,375 tornadoes across the United States this year, slightly higher than the historical average of 1,225 tornadoes.
More than 480 preliminary reports of tornadoes have been reported to the Storm Prediction Center so far this year.
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