Stormy weather could hit key states on Election Day, forecasters predict

Forecasters say a storm system moving in from the West Coast will bring severe weather across the central United States on Election Day, a concern in several states with tight contests where turnout matters. Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, said the middle of the country should see the most activity and that conditions could influence how many people actually vote. Timing of individual thunderstorms may shift, he said, but the overall west-to-east track is well established, according to NBC News.

Thunderstorms are projected from Texas to Missouri. North central Texas, a key area in the Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, could see high winds, large hail and possibly tornadoes. In Kansas, where polls show Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton running even, National Weather Service forecaster Clint Alexander expects sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles an hour with gusts that might top 50, potentially disrupting travel on Interstate 70. Colorado and Nebraska may also see strong winds.

Iowa, with close races for governor and Senate, faces a soggy day. Forecaster Justin Schultz of the Davenport office said moisture levels could set a record, though flooding is not predicted.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →