Severe weather threatens Halloween plans for over 30 million people in the central United States

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The looming threat of severe weather across the central United States on Wednesday has millions of people on alert for severe thunderstorms that could produce damaging winds, hail and tornadoes.

The FOX Forecast Center said a major severe weather outbreak is not expected and not everyone will experience storms, but tens of millions of people from Texas to the Great Lakes were at risk Wednesday.

The threat arises when a strong jet stream from the Rocky Mountains rushes into the plains, setting the stage for storms to develop. These include the risk of supercell thunderstorms, which can produce wind gusts of more than 65 miles per hour, large hail and strong tornadoes.

Trick-or-treat in shorts? WARM HALLOWEEN FOR MANY IN THE USA

This graphic shows the severe weather situation across the central United States on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

(FOX Weather)

Kansas City faces a significant threat of severe weather on Wednesday

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed more than 3 million people from Oklahoma to Missouri at a level 3 out of 5 risk on the 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale, including those in the Kansas City metropolitan area Live or work in Missouri.

Other major cities from the Southern Plains to the mid-Mississippi Valley face a Level 2 out of 5 threat, including Dallas and Oklahoma City. In total, more than 37 million people are at risk from storms.

“We have the greatest chance on Wednesday – from North Texas to the Missouri Ozarks and north to Kansas City,” said FOX weather meteorologist Stephen Morgan. “There will be a sector here where large hail and damaging winds could pose a significant threat.”

The storms are likely to develop Wednesday afternoon and move east across Kansas and into Oklahoma. Those attending trunk-or-treat activities and early Halloween festivities should have their weather alerts on and be prepared to move indoors.

Severe weather forecast for Wednesday.
(FOX Weather)

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The FOX Forecast Center said that while the primary threat will be damaging winds and hail, there is also a risk of tornadoes in the area, some of which could be strong (EF-2 or higher).

The tornado threat zone extends from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes, but the SPC has highlighted areas in the central Plains and Midwest where the risk is higher.

This graphic shows the threat of tornadoes on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

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Rainy Halloween

The further east the front travels, the less storm energy will convert this system into a rain event.

Cities like Dallas, Little Rock and Memphis could see a rainy Halloween with some thunderstorm activity.

The moisture is desperately needed in many parts of the U.S. affected by drought and dangerous fire weather conditions. Parts of Kansas and Oklahoma are under fire weather warnings this week as critical fire weather continues due to strong winds and very dry vegetation.

Forecast for central US cities through Friday.
(FOX Weather)

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Severe weather is also possible on Halloween within a narrow zone stretching from the Midwest to East Texas.

The SPC has highlighted nearly a dozen states at a risk of Level 1 out of 5 severe storms.

This risk area includes cities such as Indianapolis; Memphis, Tenn.; and Austin, Texas.

Severe weather forecast for Thursday.
(FOX Weather)

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