An active weather pattern is forecast to continue impacting much of the Great Basin, Rockies, and Southwest over next few days.
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The atmospheric setup expected to produce numerous showers and thunderstorms over the region includes a potent upper-level low pushing into northern California on Wednesday and a robust surge of tropical moisture extending from the eastern Pacific Ocean to the Four Corners Region.
As a result, thunderstorms capable of containing intense rainfall rates could lead to scattered flash floods through tonight over parts of Arizona, New Mexico, the Four Corners and immediate surrounding areas.
By Wednesday, atmospheric moisture content is expected to become quite anomalous and centered over the Four Corners.
This will lead to the potential for numerous instances of flash flooding, which has prompted a Moderate Risk (level 3/4) of Excessive Rainfall to be issued over northwest New Mexico, western Colorado, eastern Utah, and northern Arizona.
Lingering rainfall chances will exist on Thursday as the upper-level low moves farther north into the northern Plains.
Total rainfall amounts around 1 to 3 inches are forecast throughout southwest Colorado and the Four Corners, with localized amounts near 4 inches possible.
Heavy rainfall is also possible farther north into the northern Rockies and closer to the aforementioned upper-level low.
Isolated to scattered flash floods, as well as the potential for severe thunderstorms will be the main concerns on Wednesday.
SPC has issued a Slight Risk (level 2/5) of severe weather from northern Utah to south-central Idaho, with damaging winds gusts anticipated to be the main hazard.
An advancing cold front may lead to a few severe thunderstorms over northern Wisconsin this evening before the threat shifts into the Lower Great Lakes on Wednesday.
SPC has issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms from the Tug Hill Plateau of New York to central Ohio, where the potential exists for damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
The severe weather threat will continue to shift south and east along the cold front on Thursday toward the Mid-Atlantic States.
Elsewhere, rain will put a damper on outdoor fall activities throughout the central Plains on Wednesday and Thursday.
Rain could be heavy at times along the Nebraska-Kansas border.
The other major weather story for the Nation through midweek will include the rather large area of above normal and record breaking temperatures stretching over the south-central and southeastern United States.
For many, the good news is that the upper-level ridge responsible for these summer-like temperatures will gradually weaken by the end of the week and the previously mentioned cold front will usher in much cooler temperatures.
However, highs are still forecast to soar into the 90s from the Ohio Valley to the southern Plains on Wednesday, with triple digits possible in the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
By Thursday, the above normal temperatures region will shrink toward the Deep South, but highs will remain relatively uncomfortable and into the upper 90s from Texas to the Carolinas.
Dozens of daily high temperature records could be set over the aforementioned regions by the end of the week.
Conversely, low temperatures are expected to dip below normal and into the 30s and 40s throughout the northern Plains over the next few days while underneath a modest surface high pressure system. ■
The main thing making weather headlines Friday and into the weekend will be the widespread coverage of showers and thunderstorms across much of the central and eastern U.S., with a particular focus across southeast Texas, the Mid-South, and portions of Virginia.