Severe Weather Possible for the Ozarks into the Mid & Lower Mississippi Valleys on Thursday

The weather so far this week has been relatively pleasant for most of us along and east of the Rockies and it looks like a terrific weekend is setting up, too, for some. The next in a series of Fall storm systems will be moving out of the Plains and into the center of the nation tonight through Thursday. This will aid in firing some storms, some strong to severe, from the Ozarks and continuing eastward to the Mississippi River and south to the I-20 corridor on Thursday. The main threat appears to be strong gusty winds. This should be a reminder that we are now heading well into the second severe weather season of the year. This season tends to normally not be as active as the Spring season but can be just as dangerous. As a result, it is a good idea to again review your severe weather plans. I strongly recommend that those plans include either a NOAA weather radio or Weather Call so you can stay up-to-date with the very latest severe weather warnings. If you are not familiar with Weather Call I encourage you to click on the link and learn more. In my opinion, it is the best personal warning service available. It will notify you based on the specific warning coordinates and not simply by the county for which you live. The service is available for any location in the lower 48!

After this front passes through the center of the nation on Thursday, it will continue to head east through the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and the East Coast on Friday. The atmosphere doesn't appear as primed over these regions for Friday as it does over the Mississippi Valley on Thursday. So severe weather is not expected; however, an isolated severe storm cannot be completely ruled out.

An area of low pressure will become stationary over the Great Lakes for the weekend and unfortunately that means cool, cloudy and showery weather is likely along and north of I-70 and east of the Mississippi River; for this weekend. Further south and west, though, it will be quite pleasant and very nice.

Unfortunately, where the fall color is peaking in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes and continuing into New England, this weekend isn't looking that Grand. However, if you live in the Rockies this weekend is looking nice for stroll or hike to see the season's beauty.