NWS Weather Forecast: New Storms to Hit Central US, Blizzard Conditions Expected in Northern Plains

Severe thunderstorms and blizzard conditions will once again hit the United States this week, according to a weather forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday, April 4.

In its short-range forecast, the NWS said severe storms are expected from eastern parts of the Great Plains to the Missouri and mid-Mississippi Valleys.

Tornado outbreak with large hail and damaging winds are possible across the Central US amid the looming severe weather.

Elsewhere, the NWS forecast indicated the occurrence of a post-winter blizzard storms over the northern Plains, with extreme fire weather conditions over the southern Plains.

In the next several days, power outages and disruption to travel are expected.

Over the past month, severe weather has been recurring in different parts of the US, mainly in the central, southern, and southeastern regions, as well as in the West Coast, which was bombarded by a renewed Pacific storm train.

This is especially the case in the country since the onset of the meteorological spring on March 20, which led to tornado-related deaths afterward.

NWS Weather Forecast

(Photo : Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - The remains of a house and cars are entangled in tree limbs in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 25, 2023, after a tornado touched down in the area. - At least 25 people were killed by devastating tornadoes that ripped across the southern US state of Mississippi, tearing off roofs, smashing cars and flattening entire neighborhoods, with the region readying for more severe weather Sunday. The powerful weather system, accompanied by thunderstorms and driving rain, cut a path of more than 100 miles (60 kilometers) across the state late March 24, 2023, slamming several towns along the way.

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) of the NWS in College Park, Maryland, on Tuesday issued the forecast, which is valid from Wednesday to Friday, April 5 to April 7.

During the period severe weather is anticipated in areas from the western-central Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes region until Wednesday.

In addition, widespread blizzard conditions are expected across the northern Plains by Wednesday night.

Furthermore, the East Coast will experience warm weather, while the West Coast will undergo winter-like cold temperatures, according to the weather forecast.

Also Read: Severe Weather, Powerful Thunderstorms Bring Possible Air Travel Disruptions Throughout Northeast This Week

Major Storm System

A major storm system is reported to move in a northeastern pattern across the Central US through Wednesday night, and it is currently located over the central-southern Plains where it will rapidly become organized and stronger as the hours progressed, the NWS - WPC added.

Under this system, severe weather will develop ahead and along the trail of a cold front.

As a result, severe thunderstorms are possible in the said areas between the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes.

The states most at risk include the eastern parts of Iowa, northern Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Recurring Storms

The latest forecast about the new storms comes after a series of severe thunderstorm-driven tornado outbreaks wreaked havoc across the central-southern US and its surrounding regions since late March, wherein at least 26 people were killed in Mississippi.

As of early April, over 30 people died from Arkansas to Delaware due to tornado-related disasters, according to The Associated Press.

In the US, thunderstorms occur in all 50 states, particularly in the Southeast US, especially along the Gulf Coast ranging from Louisiana to Florida, according to the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science of the Pennsylvania State University.

Twisters in the US may occur at anytime of the year but they are more frequent during the spring season (March to May), wherein severe thunderstorms are rampant.