According to the FOX Forecast Center, a major outbreak of severe weather is unfolding across the northern United States just this week. Listeners in North Dakota, Minnesota, and northern parts of the Midwest are currently facing two rounds of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing widespread, destructive wind events typical of strong derechos. The first round of storms began late Thursday, barreling across North Dakota and Minnesota and making the Friday morning commute in Minneapolis especially treacherous, with the potential for hurricane-force wind gusts—those topping 74 miles per hour. Power outages are already widespread, especially in the Ohio Valley, where nearly half a million people have lost electricity due to intense winds and embedded tornadoes.

This storm complex is riding alongside a heat dome, with high pressure fueling the atmospheric instability needed for these long-lived windstorms. Cities like Bismarck and Fargo are under a Level 3 out of 5 risk highlighted by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, signifying a moderate to high threat for severe winds, large hail, and even tornadoes. Minneapolis and areas stretching from Montana into Michigan are also being put on alert, poised for impacts into Friday night as a second wave of storms develops and marches eastward.

Fox Weather forecasters emphasize uncertainty remains about the exact track and organization of these storms, since an atmospheric cap—where a layer of warm air prevents thunderstorm development—could delay or limit storm formation. Nonetheless, the setup is primed for damaging winds and hail as the main threats, alongside vivid lightning and extremely heavy rainfall.

In the wake of these severe storms, significant power outages, tree and structural damage, and travel snarls are likely, and authorities appeal to the public to prepare for worsening weather conditions through the end of the week. While it is not yet officially classified as a derecho under the Storm Prediction Center’s new definition—which requires a 400-mile swath of continuous damaging wind—the ongoing event features many of the signature elements: rapid storm movement, widespread power disruptions, and damaging winds sustained over long distances.

As the situation remains in flux and more storms approach, listeners are urged to stay tuned to local weather alerts and be ready for potentially hazardous conditions through this weekend.

Thank you for tuning in to this severe weather update. Be sure to come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from us, check out Quiet Please dot AI.

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