Severe thunderstorms could slam parts of the nation’s heartland today, making for a rocky start to the first full week of May. Most disruptions in freight flows will be fairly brief, but the weather will be intense during these disruptions.
A low pressure system and associated cold front will spin over the central and southern Plains today, followed by the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys tonight. The atmosphere will be energized enough to produce thunderstorms, some of which may turn severe, producing winds of 60 mph or greater, large hail of at least one inch in diameter, and isolated tornadoes. Quick bursts of winds and torrential rainfall could catch drivers off guard at times. Roadblocks will be possible due to flash flooding.
The severe storm threat stretches from the Dallas, Texas area northward to Oklahoma City and Topeka, Oklahoma; Topeka and Wichita, Kansas; eastward to southern Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; western Tennessee; and western Kentucky.
Other notable weather this week
There’s a low risk of severe thunderstorms in the southern Appalachians Tuesday morning, May 5, from northern Georgia to eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia.
Extreme heat will come back to parts of the Southwest, especially Wednesday, May 6 through Friday, May 8. High temperatures from the Las Vegas metropolitan area to the valleys and deserts of southeastern California will crack 100 degrees, reaching 105 to 112 degrees in some places. Reefer drivers will need to adjust accordingly to keep temperature-sensitive freight from spoiling or becoming damaged. Meanwhile, morning lows much of the week will be at/below freezing across portions of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast.
Snowfall could return to parts of the Northwest and Northeast around mid-week, but freight flow impacts should be minimal. Look for weather updates throughout the week on the FreightWaves website and social media accounts.
Have a great day! Please stay healthy and be careful out there!