Weather

Cool to seasonable conditions are expected Thursday for much of the Northeast. A high-pressure system will move off the New England coast, producing spotty showers across the northern parts of New York and New England. Dry weather will extend from central New England to the interior South and the lower part of the Mississippi Valley.

Downpours are in store for the Florida Peninsula and possibly parts of the central Gulf Coast. Moisture will continue streaming north from the middle of the Gulf.

Heat will continue to build over the South-Central States and into the interior Southwest. The hot and dry conditions will keep the region at risk for quick wildfire ignition and spread.

Showers and thunderstorms will extend from the northern Rockies to the central Plains and the southwestern Great Lakes. Some of the storms may be severe, with damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and a few isolated tornadoes.

Much of the Pacific Coast should remain dry, with low clouds giving way to some midday and afternoon sunshine. Rain may move into the Olympic Peninsula at night.

FOCUS: Severe Thunderstorms Return

Yet another round of severe weather will affect the Central States later Thursday and into the evening. Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop from eastern Montana to Nebraska. This may result in damaging winds, large hail and flooding downpours.