...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES EXPECTED
OVER PARTS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND
TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT.
THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
NORTHEASTERN IOWA
FAR NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS
A SMALL PART OF THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN
FAR SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
MUCH OF WISCONSIN
ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM...PORTIONS OF THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND UPPER GREAT LAKES SOUTHWESTWARD INTO
KANSAS AND MISSOURI.
INTENSIFYING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK NORTHEASTWARD ALONG A
FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND INTO ONTARIO CANADA
TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THE COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTH OF THE LOW WILL
SURGE EASTWARD ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEASTERN
MINNESOTA AND INTO WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...AS A
STRONG UPPER-LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES NORTHEASTWARD. THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP WITHIN THE WARM AND MODERATELY HUMID AIR MASS NEAR AND
JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND TRACK EASTWARD INTO TONIGHT. ONE OR MORE FAST-MOVING
SQUALL LINES WILL LIKELY ORGANIZE AND BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SWATHS
OF WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS. TORNADOES...AS WELL AS SEVERE
HAIL...WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE RELATIVELY MORE
ISOLATED FARTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO THE
CENTRAL PLAINS.
STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE MONITORING THIS DEVELOPING
SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE
WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER
TODAY.
..COHEN.. 05/24/2012
