Severe threat ramps up this week

After a relatively slow start to the severe weather season in March, things will be heating up this week across the Plains and Midwest.

A more spring-like jet stream pattern will provide the needed energy to produce multiple days of strong thunderstorms, with some of the strongest arriving Wednesday and Thursday.  While it is too early to get into specifics and details, a strengthening low pressure system will lift northeast Wednesday and move into the upper Midwest by Friday morning.

Wednesday's severe threat will include cities from Oklahoma to Kansas, Missouri and

southern Iowa.  Thursday's severe threat shifts slightly further north and east as low pressure strengthens and advances into the Upper Mississippi River Valley, where more widespread severe weather will be possible, including in northern Illinois.  Damaging wind, hail and isolated tornadoes are possible both days.

Now is the time to make sure you have a plan in place as those two days, especially Thursday, could pose the risk for severe weather.