Storms barreling across the heart of the United States continued to threaten rain and pose flooding risks Thursday after causing at least one death when a man apparently was struck by lightning in Wisconsin. Police in Waukesha, west of Milwaukee, reported that the area was experiencing heavy rainfall accompanied by significant thunder and lightning when someone reported seeing the man on the ground Wednesday evening. Preliminary information indicates the individual was struck by lightning while walking through the parking lot during the storm.
A weather pattern combining very moist air with a strong jet stream has been stretching from as far south as central Texas into the Midwest and east across the Great Lakes. From Monday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service has received more than 1,100 reports of large hail, winds above 60 mph (96 kph), and tornadoes as part of the storm system, according to Bill Bunting, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Storm Prediction Center. Teams were out Thursday surveying damage to determine the exact number of tornadoes.
The storms have rumbled across a number of states for the better part of this week and could continue into the early weekend. There’s been a tremendous amount of lightning with these storms over the last few days, said Mark Gehring, a meteorologist with the weather service in Milwaukee. He noted that temperatures and humidity similar to summer have persisted for an entire week in mid-April, bringing heavy rain and tornadoes nearly every day.
Five tornadoes have been confirmed across southern and parts of central Wisconsin, with expectations that more may be identified in ongoing storm surveys. In addition to lightning, hail, and tornadoes, the storms have brought a significant amount of rain, leading to multiple flood warnings and flood watches issued by weather services across several states.
In Michigan, residents are being urged to prepare for flooding, particularly in Cheboygan, where crews are dealing with rising waters in a dam and have begun issuing evacuation advisories in vulnerable areas. The Wisconsin River is also facing a serious flood threat, as forecasted levels may surpass previous records. State officials are monitoring the situation closely as concerns grow ahead of another potential round of severe weather expected to hit Friday evening.
Residents are advised to stay alert for official updates and take necessary precautions as this severe weather system is expected to affect areas from northern Oklahoma to central Wisconsin and far eastern Illinois.
A weather pattern combining very moist air with a strong jet stream has been stretching from as far south as central Texas into the Midwest and east across the Great Lakes. From Monday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service has received more than 1,100 reports of large hail, winds above 60 mph (96 kph), and tornadoes as part of the storm system, according to Bill Bunting, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Storm Prediction Center. Teams were out Thursday surveying damage to determine the exact number of tornadoes.
The storms have rumbled across a number of states for the better part of this week and could continue into the early weekend. There’s been a tremendous amount of lightning with these storms over the last few days, said Mark Gehring, a meteorologist with the weather service in Milwaukee. He noted that temperatures and humidity similar to summer have persisted for an entire week in mid-April, bringing heavy rain and tornadoes nearly every day.
Five tornadoes have been confirmed across southern and parts of central Wisconsin, with expectations that more may be identified in ongoing storm surveys. In addition to lightning, hail, and tornadoes, the storms have brought a significant amount of rain, leading to multiple flood warnings and flood watches issued by weather services across several states.
In Michigan, residents are being urged to prepare for flooding, particularly in Cheboygan, where crews are dealing with rising waters in a dam and have begun issuing evacuation advisories in vulnerable areas. The Wisconsin River is also facing a serious flood threat, as forecasted levels may surpass previous records. State officials are monitoring the situation closely as concerns grow ahead of another potential round of severe weather expected to hit Friday evening.
Residents are advised to stay alert for official updates and take necessary precautions as this severe weather system is expected to affect areas from northern Oklahoma to central Wisconsin and far eastern Illinois.
