US Spring Storm To Bring Severe Weather, Blizzard Conditions

A potent spring storm will spin up across the Central US on Friday and impact much of the country through Sunday.

Severe thunderstorms will develop to the south of the storm track, while heavy snow and blizzard conditions will impact communities to the north of the storm track.

Severe Thunderstorm Outlook:

Severe thunderstorms will erupt in the warm side of the storm along and ahead of a cold front beginning Friday afternoon.

Damaging wind and large hail are expected to accompany the severe storms. Additionally, the risk for several tornadoes will exist Friday afternoon and evening across portions of Iowa and Missouri.

Severe weather outlook for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

As the cold front marches eastward, so will the risk for severe storms. The Tennessee Valley will be ground-zero for severe weather on Saturday, while the threat will shift to the Southeast coast on Sunday.

Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary concerns with severe storms this weekend.

Winter Weather Outlook

Snow will break out across the northern and central High Plains on Friday as low pressure develops.

The snow will streak eastward into portions of the Midwest and northern Great Lakes Friday night and over the weekend. A significant accumulation of snow is expected from Nebraska to northern Michigan.

Winter weather outlook for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

As low pressure strengthens across the Plains, strong winds will develop and create blizzard conditions. Farther east, snow will mix with of freezing rain and sleet across southern Wisconsin and central Michigan.

Ground and air travel will be severely impacted by the expected snow, ice, and wind through this weekend.

By Monday the wintry part of this storm will wind down across the Central US, however, snow showers will linger across the Great Lakes.

Strong Fall Cold Front To Sweep Through Southeast AU

A potent cold front will cross southeast Australia on Friday and Saturday with strong winds accompanied by gusty showers and thunderstorms.

Weather outlook for Friday and Saturday

The Details

Low pressure will organize across the Bight on Thursday and then begin to affect the southern SA coast with gusty thundershowers on Friday.

The strong winds and thundershower risk will arrive in Adelaide Friday afternoon and in western VIC Friday night. Melbourne’s risk for strong winds and thundershowers will occur during the day on Saturday.

As the cold front moves across southeast Australia, winds are expected to gust between 60-100 kph for many areas, including the Melbourne metro area. Across the Bass Strait and VIC Alps, wind gusts will approach 120 kph at times.

Expected wind gusts Friday and Saturday

Gusty showers will linger across VIC and TAS on Sunday, however, the most potent part of the storm will have exited to the east.

Severe Thunderstorms Threaten Buenos Aires, Montevideo on Wednesday

There is a significant risk of severe thunderstorms across Argentina and Uruguay on Wednesday. Damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding are all possible. Additionally, frequent cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning is expected.

Chances for severe weather on Wednesday

The Details:

A cold front will push northward across Argentina on Wednesday and run into a hot and unstable air mass across central South America. Moisture from the Atlantic Ocean will get drawn toward the cold front and help ignite heavy, severe thunderstorms.

The severe weather setup on Wednesday

The major metropolitan areas of Buenos Aires and Montevideo have the greatest severe risk potential Wednesday afternoon and evening. Damaging winds in excess of 80 kph and large hail of 2-4 cm in diameter are possible.

Another concern with these storms is the potential for flash flooding. Rainfall amounts of 25-75 mm are expected within the thunderstorm threat area over a short period of time, leading to areas of flooding.

The severe weather risk will shift northward through Argentina and Uruguay Wednesday night.

Cooler and drier air will move into Buenos Aires and surrounding areas later Wednesday night and during the day Thursday.

Keni Acquires Severe Tropical Cyclone Status; Batters Fiji

Cyclone Keni strengthened into a severe tropical cyclone on Tuesday. Keni is expected to batter Fiji with heavy rain, damaging winds and coastal flooding Tuesday into Tuesday night.

In anticipation of the storm, the Fiji National Disaster Management Office briefed government officials and tweeted out a statement saying they are prepared for the cyclone.

Cyclone Impacts

Keni is expected to drop between 50-100 mm of rain on the northwest side of Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu. The southeast side of Viti Levu will see less rain because of downsloping winds from the mountains in the middle of the island.

Winds of 80-100 kph are expected across Viti Levu, particularly across the southern part of the island which will be closer to the central of the cyclone.

The good news for Fiji is that Keni will be a quick moving cyclone. On Wednesday, some sunshine will return to the area as Keni marches southeast away from the country.

 

Keni is the seventh named cyclone of the South Pacific cyclone season, which runs from November 1st to April 30th each year.