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NWS Warns of Thunderstorms in Northern Plains, Gulf Coast

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The US National Weather Service on Monday said the region stretching from the northern Plains to the Gulf Coast is expected to experience showers and thunderstorms on Monday.

Parts of the central Plains region is likely to encounter thunderstorms with large hail and severe wind gusts, the agency said.

The NWS issued a flood warning early Monday in Montana's Kalispell, Poison, and parts of Thompson Falls, primarily served by Northwestern Energy (NWE).

In Kansas, a flood warning was raised for Paola, Eureka, and areas near Lincoln, while a flash flood warning was issued for Emporia. Eureka, Iola, Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan were placed under a severe thunderstorm warning. Evergy (EVRG) is among the major service providers in these places.

A flood warning as raised for Mississippi's Hattiesburg and Gulfport. The state is primarily served by Entergy (ETR) and Southern Company's (SO) Mississippi units.

A similar warning was issued for Searcy in Arkansas, served by Entergy's Arkansas unit.

In Missouri, a flood warning was issued for Nevada, Clinton, Jefferson City, Butler, Warrensburg, Boonville, and Harrisonville. A tornado warning was raised for Kansas City, which was also placed under a severe thunderstorm watch, along with Plattsburg. Evergy, Ameren's (AEE) Missouri unit, and Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) subsidiary Liberty are the major service providers in the state.

A flash flood warning was raised for areas near Woodward in Oklahoma, while flood warnings were also issued for small pockets in Louisiana, Washington, South Dakota,

Meanwhile, seven blazes were active in Canada's oil sands region on Sunday indicating the return of wildfire season in the country, with risks to communities, workers, companies and investors, Reuters reported Sunday.

Seven active blazes were detected in Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche areas of northern Alberta on Sunday, which included fires within 20 kilometers of major oil sands facilities, the report said.

Canada is the fourth-largest oil producer in the world, with most of its output concentrated in the boreal forest in northern Alberta. While wildfires have always been a factor in this environment, their frequency has increased recently due to climate change, threatening Canadian oil output, the report added.

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