by Severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the same North Texas city hit by an “unprecedented tornado” that killed four people and injured 10 on Wednesday.
Isolated and very large tornadoes Hail is possible Friday afternoon and evening in an area from South Dakota and Wyoming, extending to the Texas peninsula.
The storm system is also expected to bring thunderstorms, high winds, and hail to the Texas and Oklahoma regions along with parts of southwestern Kansas and along the New Mexico border. This risk area includes Matador, Texas, where homes and businesses were destroyed by a tornado on Wednesday.
To the north, parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and northeastern Colorado can also see severe thunderstorms with very large hail and wind gusts in excess of 75 mph. Isolated tornadoes are more likely in this northern hazard area than in the southern hazard area.
Cities to see include Rapid City, South Dakota; Cheyenne, Wyoming and North Platte, Nebraska.
On Saturday, about 4 million people will be at risk from severe storms in the Midwest, including parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and western Illinois. Very large hail will be the main risk followed by damaging winds and a few potential tornadoes.
Des Moines, Iowa and Cedar Rapids, Iowa could see tornadoes. Larger metropolitan areas like Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis are on the sidelines of the severe threat, but may experience severe storms.
By Sunday, the severe storm threat is expected to move east to include 14 million people from southwestern Ohio to northeastern Arkansas, including cities such as Nashville; Cincinnati; Columbus, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky.
Heat watches remain for 19 million people Friday in the southern Plains, with another day of heat index values as high as 110 to 120 degrees. The heat index is how the temperature feels on the human body “when relative humidity is combined with air temperature,” according to the National Metereological Service.
North and central Texas got a short break from higher heat in recent days, but highs will climb back into the upper 90s and 100s across the region this weekend and next week.
Temperatures in Dallas on Sunday can climb as high as 105 degrees with a heat index of 113. In Houston, residents can expect a high of 102 degrees early next week.
More high temperatures are likely to be recorded in Texas and Louisiana next week, especially Tuesday through Thursday.
