USA Today
Severe Weather in Several Forms Threatens Many Parts of the US This Week
By Christopher Cann
Severe weather is forecast across the country this week, from extreme heat in the Southwest to powerful storms in the Plains region and days of torrential downpours across southern and central Florida.
On Monday, a swath of the south-central US is at risk of strong thunderstorms capable of unleashing damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center .
The main threat: Winds are expected to reach up to 80 mph across western Oklahoma, western Texas and eastern New Mexico, according to AccuWeather . Storms also were expected to lash parts of Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Nebraska, where severe weather will develop Monday night, forecasters said.
"Large hail and damaging winds are the main threats, though a brief tornado cannot be ruled out," the weather service's Storm Prediction Center said.
As Monday's storms dissipate, meteorologists expect severe weather to ramp up across other parts of the US. On Tuesday, the Southwest faces scorching temperatures while a dayslong stretch of thunderstorms is set to begin soaking much of southern and central Florida.
Heatwave to bake Southwest as it extends into central US
The first heat wave of the year, which baked the Southwest with record-setting temperatures last week, will expand into the central US by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service . Meanwhile, excessive-heat warnings were set to activate on Tuesday and last through Thursday across Arizona and California's Central Valley.
Temperatures in Flagstaff were expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees, and Phoenix could see afternoon temperatures of 105 to 112 degrees, the weather service said. In California, the San Joaquin Valley, lower Sierra Nevada foothills, and the city of Bakersfield were in the path of triple-digit temperatures. Sweltering heat up to 107 degrees is anticipated across the Sacramento Valley, the weather service said.
By Thursday, states as far east as Kansas and Colorado will experience triple-digit temperatures while the East Coast, from Florida up into New England, will see consistent 90-degree weather. Though the heat dome will extend eastward, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas will experience temperatures well into the triple digits through the weekend, the weather service says.
Last week, cities across the Southwest hit record-breaking temperatures , including Phoenix at 112 degrees and Las Vegas, which reached 111 degrees on Thursday and 110 on Friday, both setting new record highs. Record temperatures also were recorded in California, Texas, and central Florida.
Heavy rain to end drought across south, central Florida
Storms are expected to dump heavy rain across south and central Florida this week, alleviating drought conditions and record-setting temperatures in recent weeks .
The front with its low-moving storms is forecast to hit Florida beginning on Tuesday, soaking much of the peninsula, especially South Florida, in a deluge that could reach 7 to 10 inches of rain through the weekend, and higher amounts are possible in some areas, the weather service said . In central Florida, including Orlando and Tampa Bay, 4 to 6 inches of rain could fall over the next five days, according to the weather service.
More information about the timing and amount of rain will “come into clearer focus” in the coming days, the weather service said… - USA Today
