Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0746 AM CDT Sun Jul 19 2026
Valid 191300Z - 201200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTH GEORGIA
INTO SOUTHERN VIRGINIA AND ACROSS THE DAKOTAS INTO WESTERN
MINNESOTA...
...SUMMARY...
Scattered damaging wind gusts are possible this afternoon over
portions of the Southeast. Scattered severe thunderstorms capable
of severe wind gusts and large hail are possible late this afternoon
through the evening across parts of the Upper Midwest.
... Southeast ...
Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a mid-level trough over the
Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northeast U.S. moving east towards the
western Atlantic. A seasonably strong cold front over the OH Valley
eastward into the northern Mid-Atlantic states, will push south
before weakening over VA. A very moist airmass evident in 12 UTC
area raobs (14-15 g/kg lowest 100-mb mean mixing ratios) will
heat/destabilize across VA into the southern Appalachians.
Scattered thunderstorms will likely develop by midday into the early
afternoon both over the higher terrain and near the front. Slightly
stronger westerly flow over VA into the northern half of NC will
favor eastward-moving clusters this afternoon. High PW and
steepened low-level lapse rates will likely favor water-loading
within the stronger downdrafts. Scattered 50-60 mph gusts capable
of wind damage will be the primary hazard. Farther southwest over
GA into AL, a couple of bands of storms may yield wind-damage
potential with the stronger downdrafts. Isolated severe gusts are
also possible across parts of the central FL Peninsula northward
into southern GA.
...Upper Midwest...
A mid-level anticyclone will remain centered over the central
Rockies as an upper speed max intensifies and overspreads MT
eastward into MN. An associated mid-level trough initially over
Alberta will pivot east-southeast into Manitoba and adjacent
portions of ND-MN. Southerly low-level flow will advect richer
moisture northward into the Dakotas/MN region during the day.
Models show a relatively narrow tongue of 60s to near 70 F dewpoints
to the east of lee trough. In between a southeastward-moving cool
front and the lee trough, deep boundary layer mixing is expected.
Models generally show 1500-3000 J/kg MLCAPE over the Dakotas by mid
afternoon beneath 70 to 90-kt westerly 200-mb flow. Widely
scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Dakotas
by mid to late afternoon as convective inhibition erodes.
Elongated, straight hodographs and effective shear around 40 kt will
support an initial supercell mode. Very large hail (1 to 3.5 inches
in diameter) is possible with a few of these supercells. As
additional storms develop towards the early evening, convective
outflow and additional storm mergers may lead to upscale growth of a
severe-wind producing linear cluster (most probable over the eastern
ND into adjacent SD-MN). Peak gusts with this activity are forecast
in the 60-85 mph range. These storms will move east into parts of
the eastern Dakotas and western MN before eventually weakening
overnight.
..Smith/Broyles.. 07/19/2026
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