Wunderground Meteorologist Jess Parker's Blog

Severe Wx in the Upper Midwest, Critical Fire Weather Conditions in the West

Posted by: Jess Parker, 06:03 PM GMT on Juni 17, 2012

An active weather pattern is anticipated in the Upper Midwest this Father's Day, while warm and dry conditions in the West set the stage for critical fire weather conditions in the Central Great Basin today.

Severe Weather in the the Upper Midwest

As of this afternoon, a strong trough of low pressure moving through Saskatchewan, Canada and eastern Montana supports a developing low in central South Dakota and a warm front that extends from Saskatchewan through the Northern Plains and into the western Ohio Valley. Energy from these disturbances interact with rich moisture and an unstable airmass surging northward from the Gulf of Mexico and stirs up showers and thunderstorms in North Dakota and southwestern and south-central Minnesota. Parts of eastern South Dakota, southeastern North Dakota, and central Minnesota are at moderate risk of severe storm development, while the surrounding areas of the eastern Northern Plains through eastern Wisconsin remain at slight risk of severe weather development. The main concerns with these storms are large to severe hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes. Residents in these areas are encouraged to monitor their local weather conditions and take necessary precautions as inclement weather develops. We will be covering any tornadic activity via our website and Twitter Account.

Critical Fire Conditions In The West

To the west, warm and dry weather conditions continue across much the region and create critical fire conditions across much of the Central Great Basin, Central Rockies, and Central High Plains. Strong winds combined with low relative humidity levels and warm temperatures create a great fire growth potential across the region. This will likely create issues for firefighters taking on the High Park Wildfire near Fort Collins, Colorado-the most destructive in Colorado history! Expect Red Flag Warnings to remain in effect for the region through Monday night.