Severe storm threat rising for truckers in Plains, Midwest

Truckers will have to stay on their toes this week as more severe thunderstorms pop up from the Plains to the Midwest.

Parts of the Midwest, mainly in Minnesota and Wisconsin, were struck by damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes Monday.

Abundant warmth, humidity and atmospheric energy will trigger storms in these regions for at least the next three days, beginning Tuesday. Drivers will hit pockets of gusty winds and large hail, as well as torrential rain that could cause localized flash flooding. Also, tornadoes could touch down in some places.

Tuesday

Two areas of the country will be under the gun Tuesday — one in Wisconsin and one in Texas. This includes Milwaukee, Madison, Wausau and Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, Midland and Fort Stockton, Texas. A few spots in western Oklahoma and southeastern New Mexico could also see severe storms.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest risk of severe weather, these areas are under a level 2. This means severe winds of at least 60 mph and large hail at least 1 inch in diameter will be scattered. A small number of isolated tornadoes may develop.

Wednesday

The threat for severe storms stays in the Midwest on Wednesday, with a level 2 risk from Minneapolis-St. Paul to the Interstate 29 corridor from Sioux City, Iowa, to Fargo, North Dakota. Isolated severe storms (level 1) could hit spots as far south as western Texas.

Thursday

The highest risk of severe storms, level 3, is likely Thursday. It includes the same areas under the level 2 risk Tuesday, stretching northward into northern Minnesota and southward to central Kansas. Level 3 means severe storms will be numerous and the chance for tornadoes may be higher.

The best defense for truckers is for them to set the weather apps on their mobile devices to “GPS” or “location” mode. This way they will receive local severe weather warnings no matter where they are along their routes.

Major lanes of concern

• Interstate 29 from Omaha, Nebraska, to the North Dakota-Canada border.
• Interstate 35 from Des Moines, Iowa, to Duluth, Minnesota.
• Interstate 80 from Grand Island, Nebraska, to Des Moines.
• Interstate 90 from Sioux Falls to Madison.
• Interstate 94 from Milwaukee to Fargo.

Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Nick Austin.

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Source: freightwaves - Severe storm threat rising for truckers in Plains, Midwest
Editor: Nick Austin