Storms with Large Hail, Tornadoes Threaten Plains

Severe storm photo from July 13, 2006 was taken by Flickr user sgtgary.

By Bill Deger, Meteorologist

Mar 29, 2012; 5:44 AM ET

After a round of damaging storms Tuesday evening, conditions will be favorable again for severe weather later today over the Plains.
The severe storms are in association with a storm system emerging over the Plains. Drier air being ushered in from the west will clash with the warm and humid air in place, leading to the battlegrounds for severe storms.
Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, Iowa and northern Missouri are at greatest risk for these severe storms.
Hail the size of golf balls and larger, damaging wind gusts greater than 60 mph, and a few tornadoes are the threats.
Drivers along portions of Interstates 29, 35 and 80 should also remain cautious. Even if motorists do not encounter a severe weather, heavy rain and lightning from other storms can be dangerous in itself.

Unfortunately, tornadoes will be possible again with the strongest storms. This is an especially dangerous prospect since some major metropolitan areas, including Kansas City, Omaha, Topeka and Des Moines lie in the risk area.
The threat for severe storms will actually extend well past dark in some areas, which adds to the danger.
Communities of eastern and central Kansas that were pounded by severe weather Tuesday night are in for a second round of storms later on.
A line of severe storms may erupt from western Oklahoma to central Kansas. These storms may be spotty, but any of the storms that fire could be dangerous, producing large hail, high winds and tornadoes.
Dozens of hailstorms were reported between Wichita and Topeka on Tuesday evening, with stones as large as softballs falling. A storm chaser even spotted a tornado, but it was only visible for a moment and caused no damage.

Storms with Large Hail, Tornadoes Threaten Plains