September 13, 2025
Web desk
The central Plains are bracing for rounds of severe weather this weekend as a strengthening storm system from the Rockies collides with lingering late-summer warmth. Meteorologists warn that storms could bring damaging wind gusts, large hail, and localized disruptions from eastern New Mexico to the Dakotas.
According to AccuWeather forecasters, a powerful jet stream will inject additional energy into the storm system, raising the potential for intense thunderstorm development. The main limiting factor is moisture, which has only returned to moderate levels across the region. Still, the setup is strong enough to trigger isolated but potentially dangerous storms.
“Even though the number of severe storms may be limited, the ones that do form will pack a punch,” forecasters cautioned, pointing to risks to both lives and property.
On Saturday, the highest threat window is expected from late afternoon into the evening, stretching across the central and southern Plains. Forecasters say some wind gusts could reach speeds of 75 mph, powerful enough to cause tree damage and power outages. Large hailstones are also a concern.
By Sunday, the severe threat shifts slightly eastward, extending into parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota while continuing across the Dakotas. While tornadoes are not the primary concern, meteorologists say a few short-lived, isolated twisters cannot be ruled out.
The storm system comes on the heels of a week of building heat across the Plains, creating a volatile clash between warm, humid air and the incoming cooler front. Security camera footage from earlier in the week in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, highlighted the power of the atmosphere when a lightning strike obliterated a tree in a fiery explosion.
Residents across the Plains are urged to stay weather-aware through the weekend and prepare for rapidly changing conditions, particularly late in the day when storms are most likely to intensif
