Day 3 Convective Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0126 AM CDT Sat May 02 2026

Valid 041200Z - 051200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE MIDWEST...

...SUMMARY...
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the
Midwest late Monday afternoon into Monday night.

...Eastern KS to OH...

A deepening upper trough will develop southward into the Upper
Midwest on Monday/Monday night. Stronger height falls will remain
confined to the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes vicinity, with more modest
height falls into the Mid-MS Valley near/after 00z. At the surface,
low pressure is forecast to move across Ontario and Quebec, while a
trailing cold front develops southward across the Upper MS Valley
during the day, and becomes oriented from southern Lower MI to
eastern KS by early Tuesday. Gulf moisture return will remain
limited, with generally 50s to near 60 F dewpoints expected in a
narrow corridor ahead of the cold front. Cool temperatures aloft
will support steep lapse rates across the region and MLCAPE around
1000-1500 J/kg is forecast during the afternoon into the nighttime
hours from KS into portions of the Mid-MS Valley and eastward into
IN/OH/extreme southern Lower MI. 

Capping and weak forcing for ascent may limit thunderstorm
development across the warm sector through peak heating. However, as
a southwesterly low-level jet increases around/after 00z, modest
height falls overspread the region, and the surface cold front
develops southward toward the corridor of modest boundary layer
moisture, isolated to scattered thunderstorms may initiate.
Effective shear around 35+ kt will aid in organized storm
structures, and isolated large hail and locally strong gusts are
possible.

..Leitman.. 05/02/2026