A busy summer weather pattern will continue through the end of the first full week of June, with chances for heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and excessive heat to impact parts of the Nation.
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Starting in the central U.S., showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue and further develop overnight near two separate quasi-stationary boundaries.
The future convective complexes should move southeast tonight and over much of the central Plains, while also impacting parts of Oklahoma and north Texas.
A few storms may contain large hail and damaging winds.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk (level 2/5) of severe weather over a large area that includes much of the central/southern Plains.
Additionally, heavy rain may lead to scattered instances of flash flooding through early Friday over a similar region.
Due to recent rainfall, sections of eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas contain wet soils that may exacerbate the flash flood risk.
Flood Watches have been issued as well to highlight the concern.
By Friday, it is expected that an ongoing thunderstorms will progress into the Lower Mississippi Valley along with an accompanying damaging wind gust risk.
SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe weather from southern Arkansas to northern Louisiana and central Mississippi.
Elsewhere, isolated thunderstorms along a stationary front will likely impact areas along the Gulf Coast.
Isolated downpours are also possible across southern Florida through Friday as tropical moisture remains in place.
A few instances of flash flooding are possible along the urban corridor of southeast Florida, where recent rainfall has left soils overly saturated.
Farther north, showers along a mid-level shortwave will progress across the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Friday before dampening outdoor plans in the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday.
Unsettled weather is also in store for much of the Northwest and northern Rockies over the next few days following the passage of a potent cold front.
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected along eastern Washington/Oregon and the adjacent Cascades.
Around an inch of rain is also expected to reach northern Idaho and northwest Montana on Friday.
Marginal Risks (level 1/4) of excessive rainfall have been issued for this region in order to highlight isolated chances for flash flooding.
Record-breaking and dangerously hot temperatures are forecast throughout the Southwest, Great Basin, and Southern Plains through this weekend underneath an anomalous upper-level ridge.
Highs into the triple digits (110s in the Desert Southwest) will increase the chances for heat related illnesses.
Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories have been issued for parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, and South Texas.
Residents are urged to heed warnings issued by local forecast offices and follow proper heat safety.
Overnight temperatures into the upper 70s and low 80s will offer little relief for much of the impacted region.
The bulk of the above average temperatures will shift out of the Southwest and into the Great Plains by Sunday, with highs into the upper 90s potentially reaching as far north as Nebraska. ■
A strong storm that originated over the Pacific has tracked through the Great Basin and is currently transitioning across the Rockies to redevelop across the central High Plains later today into early Saturday morning.