Midwest and Northeast businesses to face another severe weather threat

The atmosphere will remain primed for thunderstorms to erupt on Wednesday and bring severe weather risks from central Kansas to northern Michigan as a front tracks eastward.

AccuWeather For Business experts are outlining a high risk for severe storms across much of central Wisconsin through Wednesday night. On Thursday and through the evening, the front will shift into the eastern Great Lakes and central Appalachians, bringing another chance for severe weather risk to this corridor.

Ring-of-fire pattern heats up storm activity

The bulk of the thunderstorm activity in the Central and Eastern states this week has been on the periphery of a large dome of extremely hot air anchored over the Mississippi Valley and Plains. The heat dome has produced many 100-degree Fahrenheit high temperatures and uncomfortably warm nights for millions. 

Two long-track but small complexes of thunderstorms formed on the rim of the heat instead of one large intense derecho Monday. However, both complexes tracked over 240 miles and produced widespread high wind incidents which would suggest the storm system met derecho criteria along the way. 

The ring-of-fire pattern will continue through Wednesday night as thunderstorms are forecast to extend from the northern tier of the Plains and Great Lakes southeastward to the central and southern Appalachians and portions of the Atlantic coast.

However, a rare occurrence, with a high risk of damaging thunderstorms is forecast by AccuWeather meteorologists for much of eastern, central and southern Wisconsin Wednesday. The high risk extends into the southeastern corner of Minnesota and the northeastern portion of Iowa.

Wind, hail and tornado risk

The main threat to lives and property in Wisconsin Wednesday will stem from high winds and large hail, but there is a risk for tornadoes as well. That risk may be greatest in any thunderstorm that develops ahead of a solid line of storms. These discrete thunderstorms would stand the best chance of strong rotation. The worst of the storms are likely to occur well north and west of Chicago through Wednesday evening. 

Wind gusts in the strongest storms, aside from any potential tornadoes, will range between 40-70 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 90 mph possible. Hail the size of golf balls or larger, which can dent siding on homes and vehicles as well as break glass, can also occur in the more intense storms. 

While the intensity of the severe weather is likely to peak over the Upper Midwest Wednesday evening, storms are likely to re-fire and still pack a punch farther to the east Thursday.

Rising air ahead of a strong cold front will trigger potentially damaging and dangerous thunderstorms and perhaps isolated tornadoes from much of New York to southern West Virginia and western Virginia during Thursday afternoon and evening. Potent storms may also extend farther to the south over the Appalachians.

Businesses with weather exposure in these areas should monitor this system closely and keep life safety and asset protection top of mind.

• Ensure all employees and visitors on-site have a way to be notified of severe weather
• Refresh tornado sheltering options and brief employees on actions to be taken should a tornado occur. Storm shelters should be well-marked and equipped with a disaster supply kit
• Expect loss of inventory due to flooding - If your warehouse is in a low-lying area, precautions should be taken
• Business interruption due to extended power outages can be expected
• Take precaution with securing outdoor equipment due to high winds
• Damaging hail could impact outdoor activities, equipment and inventory
• Expect ground logistics disruption due to road closures, downed trees and other obstacles, especially along Interstates 70,80 and 90 on Thursday
• Ground stops are likely at area airports as the storms approach
  
  

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• Proactive, site-specific alerts offer advance warnings well before severe weather impacts occur
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