More heat & moisture for the Heartland

During the next 5 days, a “ring of fire” precipitation pattern will affect the nation, with showers and thunderstorms wrapping around a ridge of high pressure centered over the south-central U.S. The south-central U.S. and the Pacific Coast States will remain mostly dry, but 1- to 3-inch rainfall totals will be common from the Four Corners States northeastward into the upper Midwest, then eastward to the Atlantic Coast.

By week’s end, heat will be mostly suppressed across the South; by early next week, however, hot weather will surge as far north as the southern Corn Belt.

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- to below-normal temperatures in the West and Northeast, while warmer-than-normal weather will prevail along and east of a line from Minnesota to Texas. Meanwhile, above-normal rainfall from the northern half of the Plains into the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States will contrast with drier-than-normal conditions in parts of the Northwest and from the southern Rockies to the southern Atlantic Coast.

An active hurricane season ahead

An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. As with every hurricane season, this outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place.

The outlook ranges exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

National Hurricane Center

Weather Hazards Outlook, July 31 – August 11

Here is a look at some of the potential or ongoing weather hazards and headlines ahead in the days to come:

Excessive heat for the Southeast gradually builds westward into the southern Plains, July 31 – August 4.

Ongoing River flooding for parts of the middle Mississippi Valley, extending back into eastern South Dakota.

Lingering river flooding for portions of the lower Rio Grande, July 31 – August 1.

Severe drought over southern Oregon, northeastern Arizona, portions of the upper Midwest, and parts of the lower Mississippi valley. Some relief is expected across all areas, with the exception of southern Oregon.

Weather Hazard Outlook Map

Hot, stormy pattern to continue

An active weather pattern will continue for the remainder of the week, resulting in widespread, 1- to 3-inch rainfall totals, with locally higher amounts.

Mostly dry conditions will be confined to the southern Plains and the Pacific Coast States.

Heat will briefly surge northward in advance of a cold front, but by week’s end, hot weather will be mostly confined to the South and Northwest.

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for above-normal temperatures across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., except in the Northeast, while cooler-than-normal weather will be confined to the immediate Pacific Coast and parts of the Southwest. Meanwhile, below-normal rainfall in the Northwest, the south-central U.S., and southern Florida will contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions in a broad area stretching from the Four Corners States into the Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic States.