***This post fixes a mistake with the precipitation graphic and the issuance of a new watch***
Good Thursday evening! This will be a quick update regarding this evening into tonight’s severe weather/heavy rain threat. Scattered showers and storms have fired within the last couple of hours along the frontal boundary across western NE with more storm activity developing in the last hour in eastern SD. Continued convection is still occurring in northern SD with additional storms firing in central MN.
Over the next several hours more storms will fill in across northern NE, southeastern SD, and southern MN, and far northwestern IA. Storm motion will generally be towards the ENE with a slight movement to the south over time as storms follow along the frontal boundary. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued with coordination between different NWS offices across northern NE/southeastern SD until 10pm CDT with another watch being issued for southern MN and far northwestern IA until 12am CDT. The biggest threats with these storms will be damaging winds and heavy rains, but some hail and/or an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Heavy showers and storms will persist into the nighttime hours across northern NE, southeastern SD, and southern MN, and far northwestern IA before pushing out of NE and SD during the late morning hours Friday with more storm development along the boundary across IA and far southern MN Friday afternoon.
The thinking regarding rainfall has not changed since a Northern Plains update was posted a couple hours ago. The heaviest rains will affect northern NE, southeastern SD, and southern MN, and far northwestern IA (areas that are already running 110 to almost 200% of normal rainfall).
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out via [email protected]! Have a great rest of your evening!