Memorial Day Holds Large Severe Threat

The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an area from Michigan to Kansas for a risk of severe thunderstorms on Memorial Day. Cities in this risk include Chicago, Illinois, Des Moines, Iowa and Topeka, Kansas.

Discussion
Strong low pressure will be in place over the US/Canada border in the Dakotas region. A warm front will be extending through the Great Lakes, leading temperatures into the upper 90s, likely breaking records in many areas. A cold front will be located in the Plains, but it does appear that scattered showers and storms, potentially severe, will pop out ahead of the cold front. Following those storms, the cold front will gather strength and may come out as a squall line and affect the area highlighted above.
Upper level winds and associated shearing will be located in the northern parts of the risk area, like northern Wisconsin and Michigan.

Andrew