Day 2 Convective Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1126 AM CST Tue Mar 03 2026

Valid 041200Z - 051200Z

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTH TEXAS
TO THE SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS...

...SUMMARY...
Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are expected during the
afternoon and evening on Wednesday from north-central Texas and
southeast Oklahoma into northwest Arkansas, southeast Missouri and
southern Illinois.  Large hail and occasional wind damage will be
the primary threats.

...Southern Plains to lower OH Valley...
A midlevel shortwave trough now over CO will progress eastward and
reach the mid MS Valley by early Thursday, in response to an
amplifying wave upstream over the Great Basin/CA.  An associated
weak surface wave will develop east-northeastward along a
quasi-stationary baroclinic from the Ozarks to the lower OH Valley,
and this baroclinic zone will serve as the primary focus for ascent
and convection Wednesday into early Thursday. Boundary-layer
dewpoints in the 60s will be prevalent along and south of the front
by tomorrow, given the returning moisture already present from
southeast OK into MS.  The low-level moistening will occur beneath
the eastern extent of an elevated mixed layer with 7-8 C/km midlevel
lapse rates, per 12z soundings across the southern Plains.  Surface
heating in cloud breaks will contribute to MLCAPE near 1000 J/kg
with diminishing convective inhibition along the front through the
afternoon.

Elevated convection could be ongoing at the start of the period
across southeast KS/northeast OK in a zone of low-level warm
advection.  Storms will spread east-northeastward through the day
toward southeast MO/southern IL and vicinity, while additional
storms are probable along the front during the afternoon/evening
from central/north TX into eastern OK/western AR.  Deep-layer and
low-level vertical shear will be sufficient for storm clusters and
some supercell structures by late afternoon/evening closer to the
path of the weak cyclone and midlevel trough across southern MO,
where there will be the potential for large hail, damaging gusts,
and a couple of tornadoes.  Deep-layer shear will be weaker farther
to the southwest toward TX where storms should be more
isolated/discrete with an accompanying threat for large hail. 
Convection may persist through the overnight hours to the immediate
cool side of the front.

..Thompson.. 03/03/2026