Monitoring Tsunami Impacts Across the Pacific; Air Quality Concerns; Dangerous Heat; Critical Fire Weather for the West

Tsunami impacts continue for portions of the Pacific basin. Wildfire smoke causes unhealthy air in Midwest to Great Lakes. Heat dome spans Mississippi Valley to Mid-Atlantic with excessive heat warnings and advisories. Critical fire weather in Great Basin to Pacific Northwest (dry thunderstorms). Cold front spawns severe storms/heavy rain in Central U.S. today, shifts to East Coast Thursday. Read More >

May 3-7, 2010
Multiple Rounds of Severe Weather

Severe thunderstorms developed in an unstable airmass over Illinois and Indiana during the afternoon of May 3. Even though these thunderstorms encountered a dry and more stable airmass over Ohio, the dry air near the ground allowed for cold and strong downdrafts as they moved into the Miami Valley, which resulted in several reports of wind gusts over 60 mph. Scattered reports of wind damage were received, including some structural damage in Darke County.

On Wednesday May 5, a cold front dropped in from the north, sparking off a few thunderstorms across northern portions of the Miami Valley. These storms produced large hail across far northern Hardin County, and gave other parts of the Miami Valley a good lightning show.

A more potent system moved into the Ohio Valley on Friday, May 7. Numerous severe thunderstorms developed across northern portions of Indiana and Ohio. Further south across western and central Ohio, a more stable airmass prevented a widespread severe thunderstorm event. However, one severe thunderstorm developed over eastern Indiana and remained severe as it moved into areas northwest of Columbus. Once again, Darke County was hit with severe winds causing damage to multiple structures.