...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.
AN INTENSIFYING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK NORTHEASTWARD ALONG
A FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND INTO ONTARIO CANADA
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 THIS 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.
..WEISS.. 05/24/2012
