Columbus, Ohio – A powerful storm system could trigger severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes beginning Tuesday afternoon, with storms expanding northeast through the evening and overnight hours.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, a broad corridor of severe storms is expected to develop from eastern Texas and Arkansas through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and into southern Michigan between Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning. These storms could produce damaging winds, large hail, and intense rainfall capable of triggering flash flooding, especially where storms repeatedly track across the same areas.
The strongest activity is expected along a corridor stretching from St. Louis and southern Illinois through Indianapolis, Dayton, and Columbus, then northeast toward Toledo and Detroit late Tuesday night. Drivers along Interstate 70, Interstate 64, and Interstate 75 could encounter rapidly changing conditions including torrential rain and reduced visibility.
Forecasters also warn that excessive rainfall totals could create flooding concerns from central Texas through Arkansas, Missouri, and the lower Ohio Valley, where saturated ground may increase runoff into creeks and low-lying roads.
Farther north, colder air wrapping into the system may bring a heavy wintry mix across parts of the upper Great Lakes into northern Maine by Wednesday, creating a sharp transition from thunderstorms to snow.
Residents across the storm corridor should monitor alerts, avoid flooded roadways, and ensure mobile devices are charged ahead of Tuesday’s storm development. Additional watches and warnings could be issued as storms intensify Tuesday afternoon across the central United States.
