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Extreme Fire Weather Concerns for the Western U.S.; Severe Weather and Flooding Threats for the Central U.S.

Extremely critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop across the Great Basin and Southwest today, and exceptionally dry and windy conditions will promote rapid wildfire spread through the weekend. Scattered severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible across parts of the Ozark Plateau into lower Ohio Valley and parts of the northern Rockies into adjacent Great Plains. Read More >

Overview

An intense low pressure system moved across the High Plains on October 12th, 2021. An "Enhanced" Risk of severe weather was forecast, as well as the potential for blowing dust and high winds before the storms formed later that evening. Initially, a few storms formed in extreme northwestern Kansas, but these storms were never able to fully mature into supercell thunderstorms. Eventually, a significant line of thunderstorms formed along the Kansas/Colorado border and moved east. It is this line of thunderstorms that produced the severe weather reports, with a tornado near Sharon Springs, wind damage near Oakley, and a few severe hailstones reported. In addition, beneficial rain fell as the majority of the area is experiencing drought conditions.
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