Heavy rains and record heat threaten several regions of the country this week
The National Weather Service is forecasting thunderstorms and flash floods in the Great Plains, the Missouri Valley, and the Southwest. Meanwhile, temperatures could reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the South, where heat advisories remain in effect.
A woman wipes sweat from her face during a heat wave (File photo)
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast several days of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and unusually high temperatures in various regions of the country between Wednesday, September 16, and Friday, September 18.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, a slow-moving front will maintain the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the northern Great Plains and the Missouri Valley. At the same time, the influx of monsoon moisture will bring rain to the Four Corners region, while the southern part of the country will continue to experience extreme heat.
Flood risk in the Great Plains and the Southwest
On Wednesday morning, heavy rain and flash flooding are expected in northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, due to the formation of storm bands and rainfall that will repeatedly pass over the same areas.
The NWS maintains a moderate risk of excessive rainfall for these areas. As the afternoon progresses, the front will begin to move northward, shifting the risk of heavy precipitation to the northern Great Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Ohio Valley, where new storms could develop through Friday.
In the Southwest, an upper-level trough will favor the influx of monsoon moisture into the Four Corners region. Weather authorities have raised the risk of excessive rainfall to moderate for parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico on Wednesday.
In areas where storms are concentrated, between two and three inches of rain could accumulate.
Although rainfall coverage will decrease on Thursday, the NWS warns that flash flooding will remain a concern, especially in areas where new storms coincide with the rain that has already fallen today.
Daily rain in Florida
In Florida, a stationary front located at the southern edge of the heat dome will move across the peninsula and lead to heavy rain for several days.
However, the NWS forecast does not indicate a risk of excessive rainfall associated with this activity.
Temperatures could exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit
The influx of cooler air from Canada will bring temperatures lower than usual for this time of year to the northern states. North of the front, in the central Great Plains and the Midwest, high temperatures will range from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In contrast, the South will remain under the influence of a high-pressure system associated with a persistent heat dome. Highs could reach the high 90s and exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the Southern Great Plains and the Lower and Middle Mississippi Valley.
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