Weather

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and subtropical Atlantic Ocean will extend Wednesday from the Deep South to the eastern Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic and western New England. This will result in heavy showers, gusty thunderstorms and flooding downpours across the area. The heaviest rain will be concentrated in the southern Appalachians and Piedmont areas, with possible flash and small-stream flooding. Rain may also develop over parts of the interior Northeast. In spots with saturated ground, gusty winds may easily topple trees. Some downpours will return to the immediate Mid-Atlantic coast and eastern New England later this week.

Showers and thunderstorms will extend from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to northern Nebraska. There may be gusty storms in some spots.

A few widely scattered storms are projected to develop over the Rockies and deserts in the afternoon. The rest of the region will be dry and sunny. Most areas west of the Rockies will remain hot, while some cooler air is expected to move into the coastal Northwest. The cool air will spread inland later in the week.

FOCUS: Cooling in the Northwest

Temperatures should fall along the Interstate 5 corridor Wednesday, with cooler air finally pushing the recent heat out of the Northwest on Thursday and into Friday. After a record number of 90-degree July days, highs will be back in the 70s in Portland, Oregon, late this week.