A sprawling summer weather pattern will continue to bring multiple hazards across the United States through the weekend, as dangerous heat intensifies across the West while severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall shift into the nation’s midsection.
Forecasters say Friday’s greatest severe weather threat stretches from the Mississippi Valley into the Ozarks, where storms could produce damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes.
At the same time, heavy rainfall may trigger flash flooding from the Upper Midwest into the Ohio Valley, while daily thunderstorms continue across the Southeast and Southwest.
“Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening across the middle Mississippi Valley and Ozarks,” the Storm Prediction Center said. “Isolated severe storms may also occur across the southern Plains and central/southern High Plains this afternoon through early evening.”
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Flash floods sweep across New York’s Hudson Valley
Flash floods overtake New York’s Hudson Valley as heavy rain strikes
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings in several cities in New York. NWS reported 5 to 11 inches fell in east-central New York.
Severe storms shift into the Mississippi Valley
After several days of severe weather marched across the Midwest and Southeast, forecasters say Friday’s strongest storms will focus on the middle Mississippi Valley and Ozarks.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed portions of Missouri and surrounding states under a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms, warning that storms may produce damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.
Forecasters expect damaging winds to become the primary threat as storms spread southeast through the afternoon and evening, though “some supercells will be possible,” and tornadoes cannot be ruled out across eastern Missouri and nearby portions of Illinois and Iowa.
Farther south, scattered thunderstorms developing across Oklahoma and North Texas may also produce isolated severe wind gusts, while storms along Colorado’s Front Range and the central High Plains could bring hail and damaging winds.
Heavy rain raises flooding concerns
The same storm system is expected to bring heavy rain from the Upper Midwest into the Ohio Valley Friday before shifting east this weekend.
The Weather Prediction Center says a slow-moving frontal boundary interacting with warm, humid air will produce “high rainfall rates and heavy downpours,” increasing the risk of localized flash flooding.
A Slight Risk for excessive rainfall is in effect across portions of the Upper Midwest, middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley, with a broader Marginal Risk extending into the Great Lakes and Southeast.
Dangerous heat spreads across the West
While storms dominate the central United States, dangerous heat continues building across the Southwest before expanding into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains this weekend.
The Weather Prediction Center says the strengthening upper-level ridge will push afternoon temperatures to 110 to 120 degrees across parts of the Desert Southwest on Friday, while communities farther north climb into the 90s and low 100s Saturday.
Forecasters warn that “overnight lows will provide little relief” as much of the western U.S. experiences Major to Extreme HeatRisk, increasing the potential for heat-related illness for people without adequate cooling or hydration.
Monsoon storms continue across the Four Corners
Monsoonal moisture will continue fueling afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the Four Corners through Saturday.
Slow-moving storms could produce localized flash flooding, particularly near burn scars, slot canyons and other vulnerable terrain. Some storms may also become severe, bringing damaging winds and hail to parts of the region.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.