A heat wave in California is beginning to subside as Storm Isaias threatens to bring heavy rain to Florida
Temperatures in parts of California and the Southwestern United States remain 15 to 20 degrees above average for this time of year, with highs ranging from 90 to the low 100s Fahrenheit, approximately 32 to 38 degrees Celsius.
Illustrative image of the rains
The heat wave affecting central and southern California will begin to show signs of easing by Friday, while tropical activity gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico and increases the risk of heavy rain and isolated flooding in Florida, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Temperatures in parts of California and the Southwest remain 15 to 20 degrees above average for this time of year, with highs reaching between 90 and the low 100s Fahrenheit, approximately 32 to 38 degrees Celsius.
Overnight, temperatures will remain between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, offering little relief from the heat.
The NWS warns that the heat risk is significant and, locally, extreme, so conditions may be dangerous for people without adequate cooling or hydration. Extreme heat advisories and warnings remain in effect in various areas.
However, temperatures are expected to begin dropping in coastal areas of California on Thursday and in inland areas on Friday, providing some relief after several days of unusually high temperatures.
Meanwhile, the western and central United States will continue to experience temperatures higher than typical for October, with widespread highs in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, 21 to 32 degrees Celsius. Some locations could tie or break daily temperature records.
In contrast, the East Coast, especially the Northeast, is experiencing colder-than-normal conditions. As of early Wednesday morning, frost and freezing-temperature advisories and warnings are in effect for parts of New England and northeastern Pennsylvania.
Temperatures in that region will rise over the next few days, with highs near 70 degrees Fahrenheit, about 21 degrees Celsius, for most locations on Thursday. However, a brief cold snap will reach inland New England on Friday.
Tropical Storm Isaias threatens to bring heavier rainfall
Tropical moisture, combined with a nearly stationary front over Florida, will continue to cause widespread thunderstorms across much of the Florida Peninsula and parts of the Panhandle, as well as in coastal areas of southeastern Georgia over the next few days.
The system is forecast to intensify over the southwestern Gulf and begin moving toward the central Gulf Coast.
Locally heavy rain in northern and central Florida could bring several inches of precipitation per day, with an isolated risk of flooding or water accumulation, especially in urban areas.
The threat of heavy rain off the Gulf Coast will begin to move northward overnight Thursday, when Isaias is expected to shift to a more northerly track. This could increase the risk of heavy rain in the Florida Panhandle on Friday morning.
The NWS recommended checking with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the latest updates on Isaias's development and track.
Outside these areas, much of the country will remain dry through the middle of the week. A few scattered showers are expected in the central Rocky Mountains and Four Corners region, as well as from the Upper Great Lakes to northern New England on Wednesday, due to the passage of a frontal system.
Early Friday, some showers could develop in the northern Great Plains, while a low-pressure system forms east of the northern Rocky Mountains.
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