Severe Weather in the High Plains; Heavy Rain/Flood Concerns in Parts of the East

Locally heavy rain and flash flooding is possible in the Mid-Atlantic region. Scattered thunderstorms in the central U.S. could be severe in the north-central U.S. Friday. Fire weather is a concern for parts of the Southwest and Great Basin.

Forecast for Thursday, August 6, 2020

A quasi-stationary frontal boundary is forecast to linger across the Mid-Atlantic states and Southeast over the next couple of days. Rain and thunderstorms are expected near the front, and locally heavy rain is possible, with 1-2 inches possible. Especially considering the recent heavy rainfall from Isaias and saturated ground, flash flooding is a possibility, and a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall is in place today and tonight for parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Some storms could cause gusty winds as well.

A cold front will move through the Northwest today and push into the Northern Plains Friday, causing showers and thunderstorms along it. While some strong thunderstorms could occur today in the High Plains, the greater chance of severe weather should be tomorrow across the Northern Plains to Upper Mississippi Valley, when the Storm Prediction Center has delineated a Slight Risk. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also possible farther south across the Plains and Mississippi Valley, and locally heavy rainfall could cause a few instances of flash flooding particularly near the intersection of Kansas/Oklahoma/Missouri/Arkansas over the next couple of days.

South of the cold front, gusty winds and dry relative humidities will cause conditions that are favorable for fire weather over portions of the Desert Southwest and Intermountain West today, and Red Flag Warnings are in effect. Additionally, isolated dry thunderstorms which could spark fires are possible particularly in Idaho. Temperature-wise, the West Coast can expect cooler than normal temperatures today, which should spread into the Northern Rockies Friday. Warm temperatures exceeding 90 degrees are likely across the High Plains today, pushing eastward Friday and Saturday, and temperatures over 100 can be expected in the Desert Southwest to Southern High Plains. Cooler than normal temperatures today in parts of the central and eastern U.S. will modify closer to normal through the end of the week.

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