By Islam El-Sakka
Forecasters predict a line of thunderstorms stretching from Texas to Missouri on Tuesday, Election Day, with heavy rain in Iowa and strong winds across the Plains, potentially affecting voter turnout in several closely contested races.
Severe storms expected in Texas
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center says thunderstorms could hammer north central Texas on Tuesday morning, a critical area in the state’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton. Lead forecaster Bob Oravec said high winds, large hail and possibly tornadoes are all possibilities.
High winds across the Plains
Sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts over 40 to 50 mph, are forecast for Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, according to forecaster Clint Alexander in Goodland, Kansas. The winds could affect travel on Interstate 70, the main east‑west corridor through Kansas, where Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton are in a tight Senate contest.
Dreary, wet conditions in Iowa
Iowa faces steady rainfall on Election Day, with precipitable water measurements potentially reaching an all‑time high for the season, said Justin Schultz, lead forecaster in Davenport. The wet weather coincides with close races for governor and U.S. Senate, though no flooding is currently predicted.
Forecast confidence high
Oravec said the storm system moving from the West Coast on Sunday into the central states by Tuesday is well captured by numerical models. While the exact timing of thunderstorms may shift, the overall west‑to‑east progression is considered reliable.
