RSS Mesoscale Discussions from Storm Prediction Center
SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0648 AM CST Tue Mar 03 2026
Valid 031300Z - 041200Z
...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE SOUTHERN/CENTRAL PLAINS INTO MISSOURI AND WESTERN ILLINOIS...
...SUMMARY...
Isolated severe hail may occur this evening into the overnight hours
across parts of the southern/central Plains into Missouri and
western Illinois.
...Southern/Central Plains into Missouri and Western Illinois...
Ongoing convection across the lower OH Valley this morning is being
aided by low-level warm advection, and is expected to remain
sub-severe as it tracks eastward into a less unstable airmass. A
belt of 45-55 kt mid-level southwesterly flow will be maintained
today across parts of the southern/central Plains as a shortwave
trough ejects eastward over this region though the period. A weak
surface low over northeast NM and the OK/TX Panhandles this morning
will gradually develop towards northwest TX by this evening as
low-level moisture streams northward across TX/OK into the Ozarks
and southern IL. A dryline is forecast to mix eastward across the
southern High Plains by late this afternoon, intersecting the
surface front in the northwest TX/southwest OK vicinity.
Current expectations are for robust thunderstorm development to be
suppressed across the southern/central Plains through much of the
afternoon into early evening owing to the presence of a stout
low-level inversion. One exception may be near the front/dryline
intersection in southwest to central OK, where MLCIN should become
minimal by peak afternoon heating. Here, some guidance suggests a
low chance for a robust thunderstorm or two to develop and track
northeastward along/near the I-44 corridor while posing an isolated
hail threat. The Marginal Risk has been expanded slightly southward
to account for this possibility. Otherwise, gradually increasing
large-scale ascent preceding the shortwave trough and strengthening
low-level warm/moist advection should encourage the development of
elevated thunderstorms north of the front, mainly after 04/06Z.
Around 1000-1500 J/kg of MUCAPE, steepened mid-level lapse rates,
and strong effective bulk shear suggest that some of these cells may
pose a threat for isolated severe hail as they spread from OK/KS
into MO and western IL through early Wednesday morning.
..Gleason/Bentley.. 03/03/2026
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Day 4-8 Outlook
Day 4-8 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0352 AM CST Tue Mar 03 2026
Valid 061200Z - 111200Z
...DISCUSSION...
...Friday/Day 4 and Saturday/Day 5...
A strong upper-level system is forecast to eject northeastward into
the central High Plains on Friday, as an associated 60 to 80 knot
mid-level jet translates northeastward ahead of the trough. At the
surface, a moist and unstable airmass will likely be in place from
central and east Texas northward into the lower Missouri Valley.
Warming surface temperatures and increasing low-level convergence
will support scattered convective initiation to the west of the
moist axis. Storms are expected to grow upscale in the mid to late
afternoon, moving eastward toward an axis of strong low-level flow.
Moderate instability, strong deep-layer shear and steep lapse rates
will be favorable for supercells. Supercells should be capable of
producing tornadoes, large hail and severe wind gusts. The greatest
potential is forecast from near the Red River in north Texas
north-northeastward across eastern Oklahoma into eastern Kansas and
northwestern Missouri, where a 30 percent contour has been added. A
severe threat is also forecast northeastward into parts of the mid
to upper Mississippi Valley, where strong deep-layer shear and
sufficient low-level moisture will be in place for a severe threat.
On Saturday, the upper-level system is forecast to move through the
north-central U.S., as a cold front advances southeastward into the
Ark-La-Tex, mid Mississippi Valley, and lower Great Lakes. Scattered
to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of the front
during the day as surface temperatures warm. It appears that a
marginal severe threat will develop during the mid to late afternoon
over much of the northwestern edge of the moist sector from the
Ark-La-Tex northeastward into the Ohio Valley.
...Sunday/Day 6 to Tuesday/Day 8...
On Sunday in the mid-levels, a 90 to 110 knot jet is forecast to
move into the northern U.S., as westerly flow remains over much of
the east-central U.S. A front is forecast to become quasi-stationary
from the Ozarks eastward into the southern Appalachians. Isolated to
scattered thunderstorms with a marginal severe threat may develop to
the south of the front during the afternoon.
On Monday and Tuesday, moisture advection is forecast to take place
from the central Plains into the Great Lakes, as mid-level flow
again becomes southwesterly. Moisture and instability should be
favorable for isolated severe storms Monday afternoon in areas that
heat up sufficiently. On Tuesday, models forecast a strong
upper-level system to eject northeastward into the south-central
U.S. If this scenario works out, a greater severe threat appears
possible Tuesday afternoon and evening over the southern and central
Plains. However, uncertainty is considerable at this range in the
forecast period due to a relatively wide spread in the model
guidance.
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