Multiday Severe Weather, Tornado Threat Returns To Midwest, Plains -

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16 May, USA

A dangerous multiday severe weather outbreak is returning to the Midwest and Plains, bringing threats of tornadoes.

An important multiday severe weather outbreak is going to affect the Midwest and Plains again (risk for tornadoes, large hail, destructive winds) from May 16 into the early part of next week.

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Meteorologists are watching the atmospheric conditions that may lead to the development of supercell thunderstorms, which can create tornadoes and other severe weather.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) seen a sizable area that could see severe weather issues anywhere from the central Plain states to the Midwest. Cities being affected include Wichita, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; and Chicago, Illinois. Severe weather potential seems will ramp up also over the weekend, as Sunday & Monday are expected to be the days of concern.

In Wichita, Kansas, the forecast for Sunday, May 18, appears initially as a mostly cloudy & humid day with a potential for thunderstorms in the afternoon, which could produce flooding rains, hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. High temps are forecasted to have a high of 77°f (25°c).

On Monday, May 19, the area could have hazy, warmer conditions with another potential for severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, which can lead to major rainfall, large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes with high temps reaching 87°f (31°c).

Sunday, May 18, is a great day to be in Kansas City, Missouri, until about 3 or 4 pm, with some thunderstorms in a couple of spots. Expect cloudy skies in the morning, to be followed by a couple of peaks of being cloudy, but sunny in parts during the afternoon.

Highs are expected to be around 80°F (27 °C). The following day, Monday, May 19, there will be cloudy sky periods and a few spots of strong thunderstorms in the afternoon that could produce flooding, torrential downpours, hail, damaging strong wind gusts, and an isolated tornado. Temperatures may rise to around 85 °F (30 °C).

Des Moines, Iowa, has issues as well. Monday, May 19, could bring some low clouds, breezy, and not as warm conditions, two showers and a thunderstorm in the afternoon, and then highs around 67 °F (19 °C).

Tuesday, May 20, can be cool conditions with periods of rain and a thunderstorm, becoming breezy in the afternoon, with some highs near 58 °F (14 °C).

On Friday, May 16, Chicago, Illinois, is expected to be windy and very warm, with a mix of sun and clouds, as well as a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Highs could reach 89°F (32°C).

On Saturday, May 17, it is expected to be partly sunny, windy, and cooler, with highs around 71°F (21°C). The severe weather threat could become aggravated once again as we head into early next week.

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In the wake of a very active spring season, this intense weather event is happening in conjunction with what we are already experiencing in mid-April 2025. To date, the U.S. has had over 500 tornadoes.

As a comparison, the yearly average is around 1,000, and the average number of tornadoes between April, May, and June is around 360. Mississippi has experienced the most tornadoes this spring with 95, followed by Missouri (58), Illinois (56), and Texas had only 24.

Both significant outbreak events occurred in mid-March, which produced 115 confirmed tornadoes, and another outbreak event in early April, which produced 166 tornado reports.

Residents in the impacted areas are urged to:

Stay informed by keeping track of local alerts and weather forecasts.

Have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as NOAA Weather Radios and alerts sent to your cell phone.

Have an emergency kit with supplies, such as water, non-perishable food, medication, and important documents.

Know where to go to be safe in your home or building, ideally a basement, or an interior room on the lowest floor of the building without windows.

With the possible intensity of storms that are coming, people need to stay alert and prepared.

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