Forecasts
Friday Night Baseball Meets A Midwest Severe Weather Threat
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk ยท Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Major League Baseball is in full swing tonight, but a sprawling line of severe storms in the Midwest is threatening to clear the bleachers. With an Enhanced risk of severe weather bringing large hail and damaging winds, fans need to keep one eye on the diamond and the other on the radar.
Get this, y'all. It is Friday night, the weather is warming up, and baseball is officially back. We have the Blue Jays visiting the White Sox in Chicago, the Brewers down in Kansas City playing the Royals, and the Cubs over in Cleveland. But a pretty intense line of thunderstorms is moving across the Midwest right now, and it is going to make for a complicated evening at the ballpark.
The Storm Prediction Center has an Enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms across southern Iowa, northern Missouri, and western Illinois. That is a Level 3 out of 5. The surrounding Slight risk covers a massive chunk of real estate, including both Chicago and Kansas City. We are looking at a cold front pushing east, and it is sparking an extensive line of storms that will sweep through these metro areas tonight.
The Threats For Fans
The main threats tonight are large hail and damaging winds. If you are tailgating outside the stadium or sitting up in the exposed upper decks, 60 mph gusts are not something to ignore. We also cannot rule out a few tornadoes in the discrete supercells that manage to form just ahead of the main line in places like Iowa and Missouri.
Temperatures in Chicago usually top out around 59 degrees this time of year, and Kansas City usually sits right around 66. We have plenty of spring moisture and energy in place to keep these storms fueled well past sunset.
The Drive Home
We also need to talk about the rain. There is a Slight risk for excessive rainfall stretching from the Southern Plains right up into the Upper Mississippi Valley. The ground across the Midwest is already incredibly saturated from the heavy rain and ice we saw earlier this week.
Flash flooding is a real concern for the drive home after the game. Water pools quickly on these urban interstates and stadium access roads. If you hit a flooded underpass, turn around.
If you are heading out to the stadiums tonight, make sure you have a way to get weather alerts. Stadium officials will let you know if you need to seek shelter on the concrete concourses. Do not try to wait out a severe thunderstorm warning in your seat. Grab a hot dog, head to the covered areas, and let the line pass.
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