Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
162 ACUS03 KWNS 250720 SWODY3 SPC AC 250719 Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0219 AM CDT Sat Jul 25 2026 Valid 271200Z - 281200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE GREAT LAKES INTO PARTS OF THE OHIO VALLEY... ...SUMMARY... Severe storms capable of damaging winds and large hail are possible across the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley Monday into Monday night. ...Synopsis... A potent short-wave trough and associated 50+ kt mid-level jet will move through the Great Lakes within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern High Plains. That upper-air system will be attended by a deepening surface low that is forecast to develop from the MN Arrowhead through the U.P. and northern Lower MI into southwest ON during the forecast period. Meanwhile, a trailing cold front will advance through the upper Midwest and Great Lakes into the OH Valley. ...Great Lakes and Ohio Valley... Clusters of thunderstorms may be ongoing Monday morning across parts of the Midwest and upper Great Lakes within a broad zone of low-level warm advection and increasing forcing/DCVA downstream from the mid-level trough. A fairly large area of moderate instability and seasonably strong vertical shear is forecast at the outset of the forecast period, and as such, the most intense storms will be capable of large hail and damaging winds. A subset of the early-day storms may evolve into one or multiple MCSs by afternoon ahead of the surface low and cold front, leading to a corridor of more focused damaging wind potential from Lower MI into IN and OH, and possibly parts of KY and WV Monday night. Despite the presence of strong instability along the front from the mid MS Valley into mid/lower MO Valley, stronger capping and weaker forcing for ascent are expected to lower the chance of thunderstorm development. ...Central High Plains... Thunderstorms are expected to develop Monday afternoon into evening within a moderately unstable, post-frontal upslope flow regime. Generally weak vertical shear is expected to limit storm organization; however, the presence of steep low/mid-level lapse rates and potentially large temperature-dewpoint spreads suggests a threat for isolated severe wind gusts. ..Mead.. 07/25/2026 $$