Another Active Weather Weekend, But New England Not Ground Zero

Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible
across the middle of the nation Sunday. 

There will be lots of weather activity to report in the nation again this weekend, but unlike a week ago, Vermont and New England won't be ground zero for the storm action.

That said, I worry that it will be windy enough Sunday into Monday to create new power outages across Vermont, just not as widespread as a week or so ago.

And there are more signs of winter. Winter weather advisories stretch all the way across the northern tier of states today from Montana all the way to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. The gathering system in the middle of the country is drawing moisture into cold air in the north, causing widespread light ot moderate snow.

But the real weather action will rev up tomorrow, when a severe weather outbreak in the middle of the country looks like a real risk.  The focus of the severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes seems to be Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and maybe southern Michigan.

The risk of tornadoes and large hail will be near a warm front lurking in that neck of the woods. We think of severe weather outbreaks as a spring and early summer phenomenon, but of course they can occur any time of year, given the right conditions.

In November, 2013, for example, a very bad tornado outbreak produced 70 twisters, some of them very strong, that killed a total of 11 people and caused $1.6 billion in damage, with Illinois being hardest hit.

Sunday's severe weather won't be as bad or as extensive as that in November, 2013, but people in the middle of the country will still want to keep an eye on the changing weather tomorrow.

Up here in New England, basically the same warm front that is affecting the middle of the country will come through here, but in a much calmer way. You'll notice clouds coming in this afternoon, the wind picking up tonight, and temperatures getting warm again later tonight and Sunday as the warm front passes through with light showers - definitely no severe weather.

However, those winds concern me. Gusts Sunday night and Monday ahead of an approaching cold front could reach 40 to even 50 mph. That's well short of the gusts we had in the damaging wind storm last Sunday and Monday.

However, there are trees weakened by last week's storm that could come down. In fact, although power is mostly restored from the storm in Vermont, there are still trees resting against active power lines in many areas.  Not all the mess is cleaned up yet. Winds could create new power failures, especially if the gusts shift damaged trees on or near power lines. I'd get the flashlights ready again, and charge those phones!

Showers will be scattered and light on Sunday, but be a little more intense Monday as the cold front passes through. Nothing super heavy, but it will be wet.

After that, we get into typical November weather, something we're not used to because it's been such a warm autumn. Expect high temperatures most of next week, after Monday to be in the upper 30s and 40s and lows in the 20s.

We're watching another cold front for Thursday night and Friday which could cause snow showers and snow squalls, which would slicken up the roads if they do happen. Yep, tis the season!