The low pressure system continues to slowly move across the country, dumping rain on already saturated areas.
None of these watches are flagged as particularly dangerous situations-in fact the tornado threat is listed as moderate-but the flash flood threat is very real.
Looks like I posted this diary just in time-lots of ugly radar out there.
9:48pm CDT-I'm going to call it a night, I think. Still some very dangerous thunderstorms producing many inches of rain, so be very careful tonight and tomorrow. Remember-Turn around, don't drown!
Flash flooding has been reported in multiple locations. More below.
Now expired-Tornado warning in the Chicago area, until 9:30pm CDT (now in Waukegan-set to expire in 10 minutes.) Moving NNE 50 mph-damage reports in Wheaton area (h/t commenter sphealey).
Another tornado warning in Birch Run, Michigan until 9:30CDT-that's Saginaw and Genessee counties. Now expired.
8:13 Funnel cloud spotted 17 miles West of Mcleansboro IL This warning has been allowed to expire. Lots of flooding in that area.
Update 9:32pmCDT All tornado warnings have been allowed to expire. The cities of Alma, St Louis, and Ithaca Michigan are reporting roads under up to a foot of water-flood warning is in place until 10am tomorrow morning.
Update 9:08pm CDT Wow. 5 inches of rain reported north of Hudsonville MI.
Update 8:22pm CDT Tornado watch area 531, that was Iowa, Illinois, and Kentucky, has been allowed to expire. Tornado watch area 532, Minnesota and Wisconsin, may be extended for an hour but will also be allowed to expire. Illinois and Michigan are just getting hammered with heavy rain and flash floods.
Update 8:14pm CDT funnel cloud spotted in IL just west of Mcleansboro. Also 'tornadic squall line' warning for Cook, Kalb, Dupage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties in IL.
Update 7:47pm CDT More Flash Flood warnings issued-Arkansas, plus multiple new warnings for Illinois and Michigan. If you live in these states make sure you know where flooding is expected.
Update 7:36pm CDT: Multiple Flash Flood Warnings
I tried to list out all of the affected counties-there are way too many. If you have experienced thunderstorms today, please check your local weather conditions. Not all localized flooding will result in a warning so please be careful.
Official warnings are in place for: Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio.
Update 6:36pm CDT A bit of a respite from the tornadoes at the moment. MULTIPLE severe thunderstorm warnings in Illinois and Michigan-don't be surprised to see an isolated tornado from that.
Update 5:47pm CDT Back home! Very strange commute, weather wise.
Here's a snapshot of current watches and warnings. A severe t-storm watch has finally been called for a broad swath of Texas. Tornado on the ground in Hopkins, MI.
will open in new window
Update 4:30pm CDT The only existing warning is for that cell in Texas, which has exploded. I'm leaving work now-should be home in 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Update 4:00Pm CDT Tornado warning for Timson, TX, storm is moving South at 15mph.
The remarkably-prescient TOR-CON levels indicate higher than average possibilities of tornadoes in IL (6), MN (5), WI (5), and IA (5). Several isolated tornadic storm warnings have already been posted, including one southeast of the Twin Cities that was moving NorthWEST.
If you are in these watch areas, please be alert-not just for thunderstorms or tornadoes, but for flooding. There was standing water in the ditches on the way to work this morning-the ground can't absorb any more.
Maps-all will open in a new window:
weather.com outlook and recap of last night
wunderground watch/warnings
Storm Prediction Center
RuralRoute's Diary on Minot, ND flooding here
Cities in the watch area are Minneapolis (I'll be driving right into this mess on my way home tonight, not fun), Springfield IL, Champaign IL, St Louis MO, Eau Claire WI, La Crosse WI, and Madison WI. At 4:13pm CDT, additional tornado watch posted for most of lower Michigan. The affected area is pretty much everything West of Flint and South of Traverse.
Luckily the atmospheric conditions should inhibit massive tornadoes from forming.