Severe Weather Outlook

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National Severe Weather Outlook for the next week

Here you'll find all available severe weather outlooks on one page.

Overview of the threat for the next few days

Outlook for Monday, July 27

Outlook Summary

Severe storms capable of strong to severe wind gusts and large hail are expected across the Great Lakes and Midwest through tonight. More sporadic occurrences of damaging wind are possible in the Mid-Atlantic, Tennessee Valley, central High Plains, and southeast Arizona.

Outlook Images

Detailed Outlook

SPC AC 271300

Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0800 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 271300Z - 281200Z

THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST/LAKE MICHIGAN VICINITY

### THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS

### SUMMARY

Severe storms capable of strong to severe wind gusts and large hail are expected across the Great Lakes and Midwest through tonight. More sporadic occurrences of damaging wind are possible in the Mid-Atlantic, Tennessee Valley, central High Plains, and southeast Arizona.

Midwest/Great Lakes to the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys

A complex forecast scenario again exists today complicated by numerous mesoscale factors and well-above-normal short-term guidance variability. There nonetheless is an appreciable broad regional severe potential, at least conditionally, attributable to robust or even extreme source-region buoyancy and an appreciable belt of northwesterly flow aloft (50+ kt at 500 mb), which could easily support well-organized wind-producing swaths regionally into the afternoon and tonight.

A high-moisture-content airmass is prevalent regionally to the south of a cold front that extends across South Dakota/Minnesota toward Lake Superior. Several corridors of storms are ongoing early this morning, including across the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan/far northern Wisconsin, as well as southwest lower Michigan, with some uptick in ACCAS/mid-level convection in the predawn hours across eastern Iowa/far southwest Wisconsin. Increasing daytime storms, in terms of coverage/intensity/ organization, may stem from, but are not limited to, these early day corridors. Bouts of large hail will be possible given the degree of vertical shear/buoyancy, and some tornado risk could exist, but the most prominent concern would be for damaging wind potential, particularly if one or more south/southeast-moving forward-propagating clusters emerge, which currently appear most probable this afternoon and tonight across eastern Wisconsin/western Michigan and Lake Michigan vicinity southeastward into Indiana, western Ohio, and Illinois.

Central High Plains

Moist, post-frontal surface flow is expected across much of Nebraska/South Dakota, shifting from northerly early in the day to more easterly by the afternoon. Dewpoints will initially be in the mid to upper 70s F, although strong boundary-layer mixing will likely result in dewpoints ranging from the upper 50s/low 60s across the Nebraska Panhandle to the low 70s across eastern Nebraska. This reservoir of low-level moisture coupled with strong heating and steep mid-level lapse rates will result in a corridor of moderate to extreme buoyancy from eastern Wyoming/northeast Colorado/southwest South Dakota eastward across south-central South Dakota and much of Nebraska.

Most of the guidance indicates a subtle, convectively augmented vorticity maximum will progress eastward through the northern periphery of the Four Corner upper ridge. This should contribute to thunderstorm development across the high terrain, which would then progress downstream into a more moist and unstable airmass. One or more clusters could evolve, but the overall predictability of the convective evolution is low. That said, environmental conditions support the potential for strong to severe gusts, including the potential for some over 75 mph.

Mid-Atlantic States/Delmarva

Isolated damaging wind potential will exist during the afternoon/evening, especially near/east of I-95 in vicinity of a surface trough, where marginal buoyancy and deep-layer shear could support a few stronger updrafts/downdrafts.

Southeast Arizona

Isolated severe-caliber wind gusts are possible over southeast Arizona as mid-level moisture and diurnal heating leads to scattered storms over the higher terrain. Cells are expected to move westward into warmer temperatures and deeper boundary-layer mixing, with PWAT over 1.25" and steep low-level lapse rates supporting strong convective outflows.

..Guyer/Wendt.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1630Z

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Outlook for Tuesday, July 28

Outlook Summary

Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and isolated hail are possible from the southern Mid-Atlantic into the Carolinas and central and southern Appalachians Tuesday into Tuesday evening. Isolated severe wind gusts and large hail may occur in the central High Plains.

Outlook Images

Detailed Outlook

SPC AC 270520

Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1220 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 281200Z - 291200Z

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC INTO THE CAROLINAS AND CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

### SUMMARY

Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and isolated hail are possible from the southern Mid-Atlantic into the Carolinas and central and southern Appalachians Tuesday into Tuesday evening. Isolated severe wind gusts and large hail may occur in the central High Plains.

Synopsis

Considerable trough amplification is forecast over the eastern CONUS this period, aided by the propagation of the mid/upper-level jet streaks from the Great Lakes and OH Valley through VA and NC. A series of vorticity maxima is forecast on the cyclonic side of the jet streaks, which will enhance forcing for ascent over the central Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic. At the surface, the primary low pressure is expected to deepen over the Delmarva with a secondary cyclone over western NY. A lee trough will extend from the Delmarva low south-southwest along the Piedmont, ahead of a cold front moving through the TN Valley and central and southern Appalachians.

### Mid-Atlantic into the Southern Appalachians

Showers and thunderstorms (some potentially severe with damaging winds) are expected to be ongoing Tuesday morning from the lower Great Lakes into the central Appalachians. The longevity and areal extent of the early-day storms will be a determinant in where more robust air mass destabilization will take place during the afternoon. The 00Z HREF calibrated thunder probabilities suggest the most likely areas for persistent morning storms will be from NY and PA into the Delmarva and WV. To the south of those locations, stronger daytime heating appears more probable, which, combined with boundary-layer dewpoints in the upper 60s to mid 70s, will yield moderate to potentially strong afternoon instability with MLCAPE of 1500-2500+ J/kg.

Thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage and intensity during the afternoon along and ahead of the cold front and lee trough as background forcing for ascent strengthens in the left exit region of the approaching upper-level jet streak. The presence of the mid/upper-level wind maxima will yield long hodographs with sufficient vertical shear for supercells and bowing structures. The strengthening shear combined with cooling mid-level temperatures will be supportive of large-hail production with any supercells that form. Otherwise, damaging winds will be the primary hazard, especially with any storm clusters or bowing line segments. Some tornado threat could also materialize Tuesday afternoon into evening near and south of the Delmarva surface low where slightly stronger low-level shear is forecast.

### Central High Plains

Strong heating of a moist, upslope-flow air mass is expected to yield a moderately unstable environment by afternoon with MLCAPE of 1500-2500 J/kg. Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorm development appears possible by mid- to late afternoon along the high terrain within a kinematic environment featuring 30-35 kt westerly deep-layer shear. Transient supercell structures appear possible, which suggest some marginally severe hail potential, despite the warm mid-level temperatures. There is some model signal for storm clustering over the adjacent High Plains by evening, at which point the threat for isolated severe wind gusts would increase.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z

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Outlook for Wednesday, July 29

Outlook Summary

Isolated severe storms capable of mainly damaging winds appear possible in the Southeast and northern and central High Plains Wednesday afternoon into evening.

Outlook Images

Detailed Outlook

SPC AC 270700

Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0200 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 291200Z - 301200Z

THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHEAST AND NORTHERN AND CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS

### SUMMARY

Isolated severe storms capable of mainly damaging winds appear possible in the Southeast and northern and central High Plains Wednesday afternoon into evening.

Synopsis

A short-wave trough will move through the Canadian Prairie Provinces, effectively flattening the northern extension of the upper ridge in those areas. There is some model signal for a lower-latitude disturbance to progress from the northern Rockies into the northern High Plains. Elsewhere, an upper low over the Mid-Atlantic will evolve into an open wave with the broader-scale trough slowly shifting east. At the surface, a cool front will settle south through the Southeast, while a lee trough deepens over the northern High Plains.

### Southeast

A hot and very moist air mass is expected ahead of the front, with moderate to strong instability developing by afternoon. The models suggest the stronger mid-level winds and resultant vertical shear will be displaced to the north of the frontal zone, which should limit the organizational potential of the storms developing along the boundary. Nonetheless, the degree of instability and high precipitable water content will favor locally intense wet microbursts capable of damaging winds, especially with any storm clusters that may evolve.

### Northern and central High Plains

A hot and deeply mixed boundary layer is forecast east of the lee trough Wednesday afternoon with steep low/mid-level lapse rates contributing to moderate instability. Diurnally enhanced storm coverage along the boundary remains uncertain due to the absence of any appreciable forcing mechanisms, except perhaps the weak disturbance mentioned above. Nonetheless, the presence of the steep lapse rates and latent cooling potential in the sub-cloud layer suggests a threat for severe wind gusts and perhaps large hail with any storms that develop.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS03 PTSDY3 PRODUCT

NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 3 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1930Z

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Outlook for Thursday, July 30

Outlook Images

Days Covered in this Outlook

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 270826 SPC AC 270826

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0326 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 301200Z - 041200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4/Thursday

A short-wave trough is forecast to move through the northern Plains and upper MS Valley, within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern Rockies. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to follow the track of the upper-air system with moderate to strong instability expected by afternoon ahead of the boundary. Various deterministic and ensemble guidance indicates thunderstorms developing over the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley with subsequent movement into the mid MO Valley and perhaps upper Midwest Thursday night. Forecast vertical shear is on the margins of that which supports organized storm modes and an associated greater severe weather threat. Nonetheless, isolated severe weather appears likely, requiring at least low probabilities in the Day 3 time frame.

### Day 5/Friday

The Day 4 short-wave trough is expected to continue southeast through the Midwest with an associated surface low developing into the mid MS Valley. A trailing cool front will extend through the Ozark Plateau into the Southern Plains. Persistent low-level ridging from the lower Great Lakes into the TN Valley will limit the eastward extent of more robust air mass destabilization ahead of the surface low and along the track of the short-wave trough. It does appear that a corridor of stronger instability and modest vertical shear will develop from the mid MS Valley into the Ozark Plateau, where a few severe storms appear possible.

### Day 6-8/Saturday through Monday

The 00Z ensemble means remain in good agreement in depicting a stronger short-wave trough and attending belt of mid-level flow progressing along the international border from the Pacific northwest to the northern Plains. Some severe weather threat could materialize along an associated cold front over the northern Plains on Sunday and the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley on Monday.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

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Outlook for Friday, July 31

Outlook Images

Days Covered in this Outlook

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 270826 SPC AC 270826

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0326 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 301200Z - 041200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4/Thursday

A short-wave trough is forecast to move through the northern Plains and upper MS Valley, within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern Rockies. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to follow the track of the upper-air system with moderate to strong instability expected by afternoon ahead of the boundary. Various deterministic and ensemble guidance indicates thunderstorms developing over the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley with subsequent movement into the mid MO Valley and perhaps upper Midwest Thursday night. Forecast vertical shear is on the margins of that which supports organized storm modes and an associated greater severe weather threat. Nonetheless, isolated severe weather appears likely, requiring at least low probabilities in the Day 3 time frame.

### Day 5/Friday

The Day 4 short-wave trough is expected to continue southeast through the Midwest with an associated surface low developing into the mid MS Valley. A trailing cool front will extend through the Ozark Plateau into the Southern Plains. Persistent low-level ridging from the lower Great Lakes into the TN Valley will limit the eastward extent of more robust air mass destabilization ahead of the surface low and along the track of the short-wave trough. It does appear that a corridor of stronger instability and modest vertical shear will develop from the mid MS Valley into the Ozark Plateau, where a few severe storms appear possible.

### Day 6-8/Saturday through Monday

The 00Z ensemble means remain in good agreement in depicting a stronger short-wave trough and attending belt of mid-level flow progressing along the international border from the Pacific northwest to the northern Plains. Some severe weather threat could materialize along an associated cold front over the northern Plains on Sunday and the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley on Monday.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

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Outlook for Saturday, August 1

Outlook Images

Days Covered in this Outlook

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 270826 SPC AC 270826

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0326 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 301200Z - 041200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4/Thursday

A short-wave trough is forecast to move through the northern Plains and upper MS Valley, within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern Rockies. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to follow the track of the upper-air system with moderate to strong instability expected by afternoon ahead of the boundary. Various deterministic and ensemble guidance indicates thunderstorms developing over the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley with subsequent movement into the mid MO Valley and perhaps upper Midwest Thursday night. Forecast vertical shear is on the margins of that which supports organized storm modes and an associated greater severe weather threat. Nonetheless, isolated severe weather appears likely, requiring at least low probabilities in the Day 3 time frame.

### Day 5/Friday

The Day 4 short-wave trough is expected to continue southeast through the Midwest with an associated surface low developing into the mid MS Valley. A trailing cool front will extend through the Ozark Plateau into the Southern Plains. Persistent low-level ridging from the lower Great Lakes into the TN Valley will limit the eastward extent of more robust air mass destabilization ahead of the surface low and along the track of the short-wave trough. It does appear that a corridor of stronger instability and modest vertical shear will develop from the mid MS Valley into the Ozark Plateau, where a few severe storms appear possible.

### Day 6-8/Saturday through Monday

The 00Z ensemble means remain in good agreement in depicting a stronger short-wave trough and attending belt of mid-level flow progressing along the international border from the Pacific northwest to the northern Plains. Some severe weather threat could materialize along an associated cold front over the northern Plains on Sunday and the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley on Monday.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

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Outlook for Sunday, August 2

Outlook Images

Days Covered in this Outlook

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 270826 SPC AC 270826

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0326 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 301200Z - 041200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4/Thursday

A short-wave trough is forecast to move through the northern Plains and upper MS Valley, within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern Rockies. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to follow the track of the upper-air system with moderate to strong instability expected by afternoon ahead of the boundary. Various deterministic and ensemble guidance indicates thunderstorms developing over the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley with subsequent movement into the mid MO Valley and perhaps upper Midwest Thursday night. Forecast vertical shear is on the margins of that which supports organized storm modes and an associated greater severe weather threat. Nonetheless, isolated severe weather appears likely, requiring at least low probabilities in the Day 3 time frame.

### Day 5/Friday

The Day 4 short-wave trough is expected to continue southeast through the Midwest with an associated surface low developing into the mid MS Valley. A trailing cool front will extend through the Ozark Plateau into the Southern Plains. Persistent low-level ridging from the lower Great Lakes into the TN Valley will limit the eastward extent of more robust air mass destabilization ahead of the surface low and along the track of the short-wave trough. It does appear that a corridor of stronger instability and modest vertical shear will develop from the mid MS Valley into the Ozark Plateau, where a few severe storms appear possible.

### Day 6-8/Saturday through Monday

The 00Z ensemble means remain in good agreement in depicting a stronger short-wave trough and attending belt of mid-level flow progressing along the international border from the Pacific northwest to the northern Plains. Some severe weather threat could materialize along an associated cold front over the northern Plains on Sunday and the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley on Monday.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

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Outlook for Monday, August 3

Outlook Images

Days Covered in this Outlook

Detailed Outlook

ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 270826 SPC AC 270826

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0326 AM CDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Valid 301200Z - 041200Z

DISCUSSION

Day 4/Thursday

A short-wave trough is forecast to move through the northern Plains and upper MS Valley, within the northeast periphery of an upper high centered over the southern Rockies. At the surface, a weak cold front is expected to follow the track of the upper-air system with moderate to strong instability expected by afternoon ahead of the boundary. Various deterministic and ensemble guidance indicates thunderstorms developing over the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley with subsequent movement into the mid MO Valley and perhaps upper Midwest Thursday night. Forecast vertical shear is on the margins of that which supports organized storm modes and an associated greater severe weather threat. Nonetheless, isolated severe weather appears likely, requiring at least low probabilities in the Day 3 time frame.

### Day 5/Friday

The Day 4 short-wave trough is expected to continue southeast through the Midwest with an associated surface low developing into the mid MS Valley. A trailing cool front will extend through the Ozark Plateau into the Southern Plains. Persistent low-level ridging from the lower Great Lakes into the TN Valley will limit the eastward extent of more robust air mass destabilization ahead of the surface low and along the track of the short-wave trough. It does appear that a corridor of stronger instability and modest vertical shear will develop from the mid MS Valley into the Ozark Plateau, where a few severe storms appear possible.

### Day 6-8/Saturday through Monday

The 00Z ensemble means remain in good agreement in depicting a stronger short-wave trough and attending belt of mid-level flow progressing along the international border from the Pacific northwest to the northern Plains. Some severe weather threat could materialize along an associated cold front over the northern Plains on Sunday and the northern Plains into the upper MS Valley on Monday.

..Mead.. 07/27/2026

CLICK TO GET WUUS48 PTSD48 PRODUCT

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National Risk Overview

Monday, July 27

TORNADO: 2%

HAIL: 15%

WIND: 30%

Tuesday, July 28

TORNADO: 2%

HAIL: 15%

WIND: 30%

Wednesday, July 29

ANY SEVERE: 5%

Thursday, July 30

ANY SEVERE: predictability too low

Friday, July 31

ANY SEVERE: predictability too low

Saturday, August 1

ANY SEVERE: potential too low

Sunday, August 2

ANY SEVERE: predictability too low

Monday, August 3

ANY SEVERE: predictability too low

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