Skies will be sunny over much of Texas, Oklahoma, and the Lower Mississippi Valley for the next couple of days as the area remains under the control of a strong upper ridge which has spent more than its fair share of time in residence.
Record and near record highs are likely for many areas on Thursday and will expand westward on Friday into New Mexico where temperatures over 100F will be widespread.
When combined with the humidity, heat index values over 110F will pose a health risk.
The well above normal temperatures will extend northward to the central Plains with temperatures into 90s to low 100s while parts of the Upper Midwest will also see above normal temperatures into the upper 80s and low 90s.
Some areas of the country will see cooler than normal conditions pars of the norther Rockies due to higher rain chances and also in parts of the East as Canadian high pressure moves through.
Overnight low temperatures will also be well above normal, especially in urban areas, near or above records for the date.
With temperatures only into the upper 70s to around 80F, there exists little time to adequately cool down at night.
Be sure to follow heat safety precautions.
Visit www.heat.gov for more information on heat and health.
A frontal boundary over parts of the Plains and Mississippi Valley will remain a focus for thunderstorms and locally heavy rain this evening into early Thursday.
The threat of excessive rainfall will be exacerbated by earlier heavy rainfall last night, as additional rainfall could fall over wet soils.
The area of heavier rainfall will move southeastward into the southern Appalachians tomorrow which will also keep temperatures a bit cooler than normal.
Over the Rockies and into the central/High Plains, moisture flowing around the steadfast heat dome over Texas will yield additional rainfall along with a chance of severe thunderstorms (particularly eastern CO into western KS) on Thursday.
Strong winds and severe gusts are possible in and around any organized areas of convection along with hail.
By Friday, rainfall is again forecast for parts of the northern Rockies into the northern High Plains to the south of a developing cold font near the Canadian border. ■
A clipper system will move quickly across the northern Plains into the Midwest Friday and the Northeast by Saturday, bringing a wintry mix of rain and snow showers ahead of a sweeping cold front.