Weather

Dry weather is expected to linger Friday from Georgia and the Carolinas to coastal Maine. Heat and humidity will continue to prevail in the South while humid air surges into the Northeast.

Drenching downpours and severe thunderstorms will extend from the central and eastern Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. Enough rain may fall in a short period of time to result in flash and urban flooding. Some of the storms may be severe enough to produce damaging gusts, small hail and even isolated tornadoes. Much cooler and less humid air will move from the northern Plains to the western Great Lakes. The dry air should reach the Northeast early this weekend.

Tropical moisture from the eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico will combine with a stalled front to produce heavy rain over the southern Plains. Enough rain may fall to alleviate drought conditions, but flash, urban and small-stream flooding could also occur. A few spotty downpours are expected farther east, along the Gulf Coast to South Florida.

Most of the West can expect a dry and sunny day. Showers and storms will move out of New Mexico, while some rain will fall in the northern parts of Montana.

FOCUS: Flooding in the Southern Plains

Tropical moisture is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms across Texas and Oklahoma through Saturday. This could result in widespread flash flooding. Some roads may be impassable because of flowing water. Rain will ease by early next week.