Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
063 ACUS02 KWNS 050538 SWODY2 SPC AC 050536 Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 AM CDT Fri Jun 05 2026 Valid 061200Z - 071200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...AND OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS... ...SUMMARY... Scattered severe storms capable of large hail and damaging winds are possible from portions of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into the Northeast, and over the northern High Plains. More isolated occurrences of large hail and damaging winds are possible across parts of the southern Plains and the lower Missouri Valley into Mid Mississippi Valley. ...Synopsis... A short-wave trough initially from James Bay into the Great Lakes Saturday morning is forecast to amplify while translating through southern Quebec and the Northeast. Associated mid/upper-level jet streaks within the base of the strengthening trough are forecast to overspread the upper OH Valley through southern New England, enhancing vertical shear and forcing for ascent in those areas. Elsewhere, a jet streak will round the base of a deep trough over the Canadian Rockies into Pacific Northwest, with the trough axis pivoting east through the Columbia Basin toward the northern Rockies. Meanwhile, a lower-latitude trough will move through the southern and central Plains, with a belt of enhanced mid/upper-level flow extending from southwest TX through the ArkLaTex into Ozark Plateau during the peak of the diurnal heating cycle. At the surface, an initially diffuse cold front associated with the Great Lakes/Northeast short-wave trough will slowly advance through the Great Lakes, northern OH Valley, and St. Lawrence Valley into northern New England. Over the northern High Plains, a surface low is forecast to deepen along a cold front emerging from the northern Rockies. ...Great Lakes and OH Valley into the Northeast... Areas of showers and thunderstorms are expected to be ongoing Saturday morning within a broad zone of warm advection and moisture flux occurring along a westerly low-level jet. A subset of those thunderstorms are likely to persist and gradually intensify from late morning into afternoon. Additional, diurnally enhanced storms are expected to develop within preferred zones of confluence within the weakly capped warm sector, which will destabilize from west-to-east over the course of the day. The 00z HREF indicates a corridor of mean SBCAPE of 1000-1500+ J/kg developing by afternoon from the OH Valley into southern New England, which will coincide with steadily strengthening deep-layer shear. As such, the potential exists for organized storm modes, including bowing line segments and supercells capable of swaths of wind damage and large hail during the afternoon and evening hours. The greatest supercell potential is expected to evolve across the upper OH Valley, where the large hail is most probable, along with the threat for a brief tornado or two. ...Northern High Plains... Late-arriving forcing for ascent and more robust boundary-layer moisture content are expected to delay thunderstorm development until late afternoon or evening in the vicinity of the surface low and front situated along the MT-ND Border. The presence of a moderately unstable air mass and steadily strengthening vertical shear are expected to support supercell storm modes with an attendant threat for large hail and damaging wind gusts. The severe-weather threat may continue into the overnight hours, centered along the low-level jet axis. ...Red River Valley into southwest Texas... As mentioned in the synopsis, a belt of enhanced mid-level flow is forecast within the southern/southeastern periphery of the upper low, which will enhance vertical shear to some extent. Slightly cooler temperatures aloft coupled with a warm and moist boundary layer will support a moderately unstable air mass in areas unaffected by early storms and lingering cloud cover. Forecast soundings indicate relatively weak capping, which should permit increasing storm coverage by afternoon along any pre-existing boundaries. The overall environment appears supportive of multicell storms capable of isolated occurrences of large hail and locally strong wind gusts during the afternoon and evening hours. ...Lower Missouri and Mid Mississippi Valleys... Moderate to strong afternoon instability is forecast to develop along and south of the trailing surface front or convective outflow boundary remnant from Friday night thunderstorms. Weak low-level warm advection coupled with the growing influence of a mid-level trough approaching from the southwest are expected to support widely scattered thunderstorm development during the afternoon. While vertical shear is expected to remain relatively weak, the degree of instability will support vigorous up/downdrafts capable of marginally severe hail and/or locally damaging wind gusts. ..Mead.. 06/05/2026 $$