Cold Front Brings Severe Weather Threat to the Plains and Great Lakes

26 Jun 2020, 9:00 am

Severe storms are again possible across the northern tier of the nation today (Friday) as a trough and accompanying cold front sweep from the Rockies to the Great Lakes. The environment remains favorable for scattered severe storms exists today (Friday) from the Great Lakes to the Front Range. An elevated risk for severe storms has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) from Iowa to Lower Michigan.

On Thursday, severe weather produced very large hail fell in several Plains states. Hail around the size of baseballs fell in Nebraska.

Check out the size of the hail that fell in Crawford, NE, on Thursday…some of the biggest stones measured between 2.5" to 3". There were reports of damage to both cars and homes across the area. More on today's severe risk -> https://t.co/wXfalU6wLx #newx pic.twitter.com/C5dOndObxt

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) June 26, 2020

As the front moves into the Great Lakes, low-level moisture is expected to increase, helping to destabilize the atmosphere. Warm temperatures and sufficient moisture will combine with a region of increased wind shear in the mid-levels of the atmosphere, which will aid in the formation of scattered or numerous severe thunderstorms.

The threat for damaging wind gusts will be the main concern, Large hail and a few tornadoes will also be possible for the areas indicated below.

Storms should develop by the early to middle afternoon hours and are expected to progress to the east and southeast into the evening. Linear segments (lines of storms) could form near the front, potentially broadening the damaging wind threat.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest updates on current storm activity and the forecast. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.

About the author

Mace Michaels

Mace was born and raised in Minnesota, where his intrigue for weather and broadcasting grew at a young age. His 30 years in broadcasting have taken him all across the Midwest and in the South. During high school and college, Mace first worked at a number of radio stations which helped pay tuition bills and get him ready for a career in television. His first TV Meteorology job was in Wausau, WI, fo... Load Morellowed by stops in Grand Rapids, MI, Fort Myers, FL, Tampa, FL, Cedar Rapids, IA and then across the country on WeatherNation. Mace is one of our Digital Meteorologists, posting weather stories on our website and social media accounts. He is also a game-day Meteorologist for the Minnesota Twins.