Storms could bring heavy rain
Storms expected Monday in southern Wisconsin could produce heavy rains, according to News 3 meteorologist Gary Cannalte.
Another warm and humid day is expected across southern Wisconsin. As a cold front approaches from Minnesota and Iowa, showers and thunderstorms will become likely, especially from Monday afternoon through Monday evening. Some of the thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall, and there is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
Overnight showers and thunderstorms have been pushing from Minnesota and western Iowa into west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. Some of the thunderstorms have produced torrential rainfall. Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches were common between the Twin Cities and Eau Claire, with 7.31 inches reported just northwest of River Falls in St. Croix County. Flash flood watches are in effect from east-central Minnesota through west-central Wisconsin through early Monday afternoon.
More thunderstorm development is expected Monday morning from eastern Iowa into southwestern Wisconsin, with these storms moving east through the rest of Wisconsin Monday afternoon and evening before ending as the cold front moves into Illinois and Indiana by early Tuesday morning.
In addition to the potential for heavy rainfall, there also is a potential for a few severe thunderstorms, with high winds the main threat. Hail will be a lesser threat because of warm temperatures near the ground melting more of the hail as it falls. While not likely, the threat for an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, mainly in the initial development of thunderstorms. General rainfall of one-half inch to 1 1/2 inches is expected through southern Wisconsin by early Tuesday morning, with isolated locations receiving over 2 inches in some of the heaviest thunderstorms.
The severe weather threat will lessen somewhat Monday evening as the atmosphere slowly cools near and after sunset. The severe weather threat will end with the passage of the cold front by late evening, or shortly after midnight.
Cooler and less humid weather will arrive on Tuesday, and comfortable weather will continue into Thursday. More heat and humidity should return by next weekend, with high temperatures climbing to the mid-80s accompanied by high humidity. There will also be a chance for showers and thunderstorms beginning Friday through next week Monday, although much of the time it won’t be raining.
