Three separate severe weather fronts are forecast on Wednesday. A massive swath of heavy rain could bring flash flooding from Montana to the Atlantic, with thunderstorms across most of the US into the weekend.
Severe weather on three fronts
Severe weather that spans nearly the entirety of the US from Montana to the Atlantic will put at least 78 million Americans at risk on Wednesday, ABC reported.
Widespread thunderstorms with the potential of severe weather and flooding will continue throughout the week across the US. On Tuesday, a tornado touched down near Washington, D.C., and the sky went green in South Dakota where a derecho barreled through most of the state.
Severe weather stretches across the US
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is warning of a potential threat of severe weather on three fronts of concern on Wednesday that all carry a Level 2 severe weather risk over the northern Rockies, upper Midwest, Plains, Ohio Valley, mid-South, and Southeast.
A Level 2 Severe Weather Risk is defined as scattered, isolated severe storms with the possibility of wind damage, large hail between 1-2 inches, and a low threat of 1-2 isolated tornadoes.
The first potential severe weather front is over most of Montana into northeastern Wyoming and southwestern Nebraska. Damaging winds and large hail will be the greatest threats in this region.
The second front is over northeastern Colorado into southwestern Nebraska and northwestern Kansas.
The third-largest storm front is over southern Indiana and Ohio, into central and eastern Kentucky, central and eastern West Virginia, most of Virginia, eastern Tennessee, most of North Carolina, northern South Carolina, and northeastern Georgia.
Similar severe weather outlook for Thursday and Friday
Thursday will see two potential severe weather fronts in locations similar to those on Wednesday, according to the SPC. The first is in the West over Idaho and Montana. The second is in the East over Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
On Friday, potential severe weather over Montana, but the risk could increase in the South and Southeast over the next two days.
Flash flooding threat spans over 3/4 of US
As thunderstorms blanket a large swath of the US on Wednesday, an expansive stretch of heavy rain could bring flash flooding from Montana to the Atlantic.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch for: southeastern Montana; western South Dakota; northeastern Wyoming; southern Michigan; northern Indiana; northern, central, and southwestern Ohio; northern Kentucky; West Virginia; Washington, D.C.; central and western Maryland; northern Virginia.
According to the latest forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS), portions of the following areas are under a potential flash flooding threat on Wednesday: Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and New Jersey.
NWS issues heated advisories for Midwest, Ohio Valley, South, Southeast
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a number of heat-related alerts for Wednesday.
Excessive heat warning for portions of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Heat advisory for portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
