Severe Storms Threaten Plains and Midwest Early This Week

DES MOINES, Iowa – A multi-day severe weather threat is unfolding in the Plains and Midwest, with the potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds expected to impact the region through the early days of the week.

The storm system is already prompting concerns as severe thunderstorms are expected to develop late Sunday into Monday. Reports indicated tornadoes in New Mexico Saturday evening, including one near Roswell, and hail as large as tennis balls in Pecos, Texas.

As the system pushes eastward, the strongest severe weather threat will emerge on Monday afternoon and evening across a wide area from Minnesota to Texas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 4 out of 5 severe weather risk for parts of Iowa and Minnesota, indicating the potential for long-track tornadoes and significant hail.

“We’re going to see the air mass explode to life on Monday,” said a senior meteorologist. “Strong winds aloft will lead to conditions that are favorable for severe storms.”

The forecast warns that storms may begin as supercells before evolving into a squall line with embedded tornadoes. Cities like Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City are on high alert for these dangerous conditions.

On Tuesday, the threat continues as the storm system sweeps across the eastern Great Lakes and into the Ohio Valley, prompting warnings for additional severe weather. Areas from Dallas-Fort Worth to St. Louis and Indianapolis could also be affected.

As of late Sunday, nearly five million residents are under a severe risk level of 4, a situation not seen for several years in the Upper Midwest. With the beginning of May approaching, the spring storm season is expected to ramp up further.

Residents across the affected areas are advised to remain vigilant, monitor local warnings, and prepare for severe weather events in the coming days.