By ALEX SOSNOWSKI
Senior Meteorologist, AccuWeather.com

NATIONAL — AccuWeather reports a severe weather outbreak, including the risk for a few tornadoes, will take aim at areas from Houston to Chicago and Milwaukee on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The severe thunderstorm threat zone covers an area home to approximately 30 million people.

“A rapidly strengthening storm system will cause severe weather to first erupt from western Iowa to central Texas during Wednesday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliot said. “The severe weather will then move eastward toward the Mississippi Valley and the upper Gulf Coast toward Wednesday evening.”

The risk of severe storms will extend eastward into Wednesday night.

The main threat from the thunderstorms will be for damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and downpours that could suddenly reduce the visibility. Hail and flash flooding can also occur with some of the storms. Travel delays are likely throughout the region.

According to AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos, “The greatest risk for isolated tornadoes is from central Missouri and central Illinois, including St. Louis, to southeastern Iowa and to northwestern Illinois.”

While the threat for tornadoes is not especially high, a single tornado striking a populated area can lead to great destruction and loss of life.

Hail and flash flooding can also occur in some of the storms.

Residents should take the time now amid the current dry and calm spell to review severe weather safety tips.

The risk of severe thunderstorms will be significantly lower on Thursday as the storm system and trailing cool front reach the East.

Adverse weather, accompanying the strengthening storm, will not just be confined to the Mississippi Valley on Veterans Day.

Other effects from the large storm include windswept snow over the Rockies and central High Plains and powerful wind gusts in absence of thunderstorms from the Plains to the Great Lakes.