Thursday's Weather Outlook

The Plains sees strong storms and heavy rain with a wet pattern getting underway once again.

A large and broad low-pressure system will form in the Central Plains. The entirety of the Plains, parts of the Midwest, eastern Rockies, and Mid-South will have the chance for storms and flash flooding. There will be two main zones of heavy rain potential.

The first zone stretches from the Northern Rockies and east to the Great Lakes. During the day, expect bouts of steady rain especially in states like Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Towards the end of the day, additional strong storms will form and will be capable of large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.

The second zone will be an organized swath of storms and heavy rain. This will occur in eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Tropical-like moisture will heighten the risk of flash flooding. Expect damaging winds and a couple tornadoes with this activity.

Showers and storms will come off the Rockies in eastern portions of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Hail and damaging winds are the greatest threats. The higher terrain up in Idaho and Montana will see this activity as well that will feature increased rain totals.

The Southeast will see summertime pop-up storms populate the area. The main threats are damaging winds and flash flooding, especially with slow moving storms.

Across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, some showers are likely but most of these areas will remain dry. North of New York City will see pleasant temperatures as a cold upper-level system sits up near Hudson Bay.

Almost the entirety of the West Coast will see dry weather. The stretch of hot temperatures continues, especially in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

The Pacific Northwest will be cooler with a few stray showers as they get a little break from the recent hot temperatures.

Highs in the 50s will be likely in the higher terrain Pacific Northwest and Rockies. Sixties and 70s will be found in the Northern Plains, Northeast, and on the West Coast. A large swath of the central U.S.to the East Coast will see 80s and 90s. The hottest temperatures in the continental U.S. will be in the Desert Southwest, where 100s are likely.