Bumpy, Booming Labor Day Weekend Weather

Severe storms and floods are
possible in parts of the nation
for the rest of the holiday weekend.  

Around 4 a.m. this morning a bright flash and the CR-R_RACKKK BOOOMM!!!!! of a close lightning strike woke me up at my St. Albans, Vermont house.  

That was the signal that for many parts of the nation, the rest of the Labor Day weekend will be stormy in many parts of the country. Especially today.

Two areas are being watched the most closely. The Storm Prediction Center says the most likely target for big storms runs from central Kansas up through Nebraska, Iowa and on into Minnesota.

There is some threat of a few tornadoes, especially in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, but the biggest danger is from huge hailstones and damaging winds in this region.

The Storm Prediction Center has a lesser, but still real chance of severe storms from southwestern New England into the Mid-Atlantic states.

On Monday, the threat of severe storms will shift into Missouri, Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Again, big hail and strong winds are the main threat.

Even in areas that won't get classic severe storms, there is the threat of torrential, even flooding rains today. Where I live in Vermont, the storms are unlikely to be severe, but some storms will produce an inch or two of rain in a very short period of time.

Luckily, it's been a bit on the dry side lately, so around here, there won't be much flooding, except for those streets in urban centers such as Burlington, Rutland and St. Albans that sometimes flood in those towns get bullseyed by a particularly hard storm.

Elsewhere, flash flood watches are for parts of Kentucky and Tennesee. They've had quite a bit of rain there, and heavy downpours are likely today.

Southwestern Louisiana is also under a flood watch.

On the bright side, hurricanes often threaten the U.S. East Coast this time of year. There's none of that this year. There is no chance of a tropical storm or hurricane hitting anywhere in the United States over the next few days.

In almost all the areas that I've said are threatened by storms or flooding, the whole day won't be a washout. There will be dry periods to enjoy the late summer outdoors. Just be ready to move inside at the drop of a hat, and the first drops of a downpour.