A stubbornly active weather pattern is expected to bring a stretch of stormy summer weather to the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes through early next week, putting outdoor plans and activities at risk.

A massive ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the West, while several weather disturbances are projected to ride along the northern edge of the ridge, leading to multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms across Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, and the western Great Lakes.

On Saturday morning, the Dakotas experienced dew points in the lower 70s, indicating a significant amount of moisture available to combine with afternoon heating and atmospheric instability. This combination is likely to fuel the development of several clusters of thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.

As Saturday progresses, the storms are expected to further organize, forming a line of thunderstorms that could produce large hail and damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph. This line is predicted to sweep across Minnesota and Wisconsin, extending into Michigan and northern Illinois by Sunday morning. Additionally, storms will recur across the Dakotas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather on Saturday, covering an area that includes over 12 million people. This indicates a moderate threat of severe weather in the affected regions.

The stormy pattern is expected to continue on Sunday and Monday, with the weather system gradually shifting eastward due to an eastward movement in the steering ridge of high pressure. Sunday's storm forecast appears to be lighter compared to Saturday's, but the severe weather threat is predicted to intensify again on Monday, covering a wider area that includes Chicago, Milwaukee, and parts of the outer southern neighborhoods of Minneapolis and Green Bay. This renewed Level 2 severe weather threat could bring large hail, damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay informed and heed any severe weather warnings or watches issued by local authorities. It is important to take precautions to ensure personal safety and protect property during these stormy conditions.

As this active weather pattern persists, meteorologists will continue to monitor its progression and provide updates on the development and movement of severe thunderstorms across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region.