An active severe weather period will return to the Southern Plains, Plains and Mid-South late this upcoming week into the weekend (Friday through Sunday).

By Friday, a trough will approach the Plains from the west (see Fig. 1). This will spread decent shear into the Southern Plains and allow a ‘sharp’ dryline to take shape. Good moisture will advect ahead of this dryline with dewpoints in the 60s & 70s by Friday afternoon (see Fig. 2). The states that look to be under fire Friday afternoon are: Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas as thunderstorms develop along the dryline.

Fig. 1: Trough Approaching Plains Friday Afternoon

Fig. 2: Future Forecast Dewpoints Friday Afternoon

Due to the favorable setup for severe thunderstorms, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has already highlighted a slight risk area for western Kansas, western Oklahoma and western Texas for Friday afternoon/evening (see Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Friday’s Thunderstorm Outlook From The SPC

By Saturday afternoon, the dryline will move east (closer to the I-35 corridor) allowing the severe weather threat to shift east into northern & central Texas, central and eastern Oklahoma and eastern Kansas (see Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: Future Forecast Dewpoints Saturday Afternoon (Dryline Just West Of I-35 Corridor)

Heading into Sunday, the severe threat will shift east into Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. At this time, it appears widespread severe thunderstorms are possible each day (Friday through Sunday). While this event is still severe days out, there is enough confidence to introduce the possibility of tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding each afternoon during this time period. As the event nears, and certain details become more clear, we can pinpoint which areas will have the greatest chance to see tornadoes.