Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted July 27, 2024
This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.
First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here after about 4 p.m. New York time but it is unlikely to have changed very much from the morning update. The images in this article automatically update.
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Jul 27 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Jul 27 2024 – 12Z Mon Jul 29 2024…Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue across portions of the
South and Mississippi Valley this weekend with the risk for some flash
flooding……Hot weather is in store across portions of the Northern Plains and
Upper Midwest ahead of a cold front bringing the threat of severe
thunderstorms on Saturday and heavy downpours on Sunday……Monsoonal thunderstorms continue for portions of the Intermountain West
with isolated flash flooding possible…Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across portions of the
South and Mississippi Valley this weekend in the presence of very moist,
southerly Gulf flow. An upper-level wave over the Plains on Saturday will
encourage storms over the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley and along
the Gulf Coast. A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) is in
effect for portions of the Gulf Coast of Texas where recent heavy rainfall
over the past few days has left wetter antecedent conditions more
susceptible to scattered instances of flash flooding, though an isolated
flash flood risk will exist elsewhere. The wave will move eastward on
Sunday, helping to focus storm development over portions of the Middle
Mississippi/Lower Ohio Valley southeastward into the Tennessee Valley and
south to the Gulf Coast. The greatest concentration of storms/storm
clusters is expected along the leading edge of the wave over the Tennessee
Valley, where a Slight Risk of Excessive rainfall is in place for another
threat of some scattered flash flooding. The unsettled weather will help
keep temperatures down across the region this weekend, with temperatures
at or below Summer-time averages, especially for portions of central and
eastern Texas. Forecast highs are generally in the mid- to upper 80s, with
low 90s possible closer to the central Gulf/Atlantic coasts and into
Florida.To the north, a slow moving frontal system will bring shower and storm
chances to the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest Saturday. Plentiful moisture
with sufficient instability, as well as stronger upper-level flow arriving
over the region helping to strengthen deep-layer shear, will promote some
more intense thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a
Slight Risk of severe weather (level 2/5) over portions of eastern North
Dakota into northwestern Minnesota for the threat of large hail and
damaging winds. Some isolated flash flooding will also be possible. Then,
on Sunday, the front is expected to slow as it approaches Minnesota.
Increasing storm coverage along the front will lead to a greater chance of
heavier rain totals and flash flooding, with a Slight Risk of Excessive
rainfall over northern Minnesota. Further to the southwest, more isolated
storms ahead of the front over central South Dakota will continue to pose
a threat of severe weather, with a Slight Risk in place for some large
hail and damaging winds. Forecast highs ahead of the front will continue
to remain well above average, with highs in the mid-80s to low 90s for the
Northern Plains/Upper Midwest and mid- to upper 90s into the Central
Plains.More Monsoonal storms are expected on Saturday across portions of the
Great Basin, Rockies, and Southwest. Lingering moisture across the region
may lead to some locally heavy downpours, with isolated flash flooding
possible, particularly for terrain sensitive areas such as burn scars.
Storm chances will come down as upper-level heights begin to rise over the
region on Sunday, with a lingering chance over southeastern
Arizona/southwestern New Mexico. Forecast highs broadly across the West
will be at or a bit below average with an upper-level trough in place.
Highs will be in the 60s and 70s along the Pacific Coast, the 70s and 80s
for the Pacific Northwest, the 80s and 90s for interior California and the
Great Basin/Rockies, and 100s in the Desert Southwest.Elsewhere, conditions will be rather tranquil from the Great Lakes east to
the East Coast between weather systems. Some showers may begin to spread
into the Great Lakes region later Sunday as the Plains system approaches
from the west, while a coastal low could bring some showers to southern
New England. Forecast highs will generally be at or above average, with
highs in the mid- to upper 80s.