Severe thunderstorms and flash flood threats are targeting the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley regions, continuing a pattern of stormy weather that has already caused power outages and damage. The storms are expected to tap into high humidity, leading to heavy rainfall and a significant flash flood risk as storms repeatedly move over the same areas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms across a corridor stretching from northern and central Illinois through eastern Pennsylvania, and into parts of northern West Virginia and western Maryland. This includes major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. Forecasters warn of the potential for large hail, damaging wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes.
A Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding is also in effect for this region, beginning Monday evening. Additionally, some areas in and around Charleston, West Virginia, including parts of southwestern Ohio, face a Level 3 out of 4 flash flood risk through Tuesday.
These storms follow a weekend outbreak that spawned at least one tornado near Annawan, Illinois. A FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker observed the tornado Sunday evening. The severe weather has already impacted infrastructure, with over 1,000 customers in LaSalle County, Illinois, experiencing power outages early Monday due to strong wind gusts that swept across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The NWS recorded a wind gust of 73 mph just west of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
While an estimated EF-3 tornado caused significant damage in Menasha, Wisconsin, on July 27, the current forecast indicates a continued threat for severe weather. The pattern is expected to shift slightly south on Tuesday, with the primary severe weather threat moving further into the central Appalachians and Virginia.
Rainfall totals are anticipated to range from 2 to 3 inches across much of the area from Chicago to Cleveland, with localized amounts of 3 to 5 inches possible in northern Indiana and Ohio due to repetitive showers. The rain is expected to continue into Thursday, with West Virginia potentially seeing rainfall totals exceed half a foot by the end of the week.
