Weather

Much of the eastern third of the United States can expect a sunny day Wednesday, with a warm afternoon. High pressure is expected to extend from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the upper part of the Gulf of Mexico. A storm will produce clouds and showers as it moves over the Atlantic Ocean.

A powerful storm system will move east over the north-central states. Rain will soak areas from Minnesota to northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, while showers linger across parts of the Dakotas. The storm is also expected to bring severe thunderstorms from the middle part of the Mississippi Valley to the lower part of the Ohio Valley. Some of the storms could produce strong gusts, large hail and flash flooding. South of the storm, warmth will persist over the southern Plains and build into the lower Mississippi Valley.

Most areas from New Mexico and Colorado to California can expect sunshine and a hot afternoon. Low clouds and a breeze from the Pacific Ocean will limit warmth along the California coast. A storm will bring clouds and wet weather from Washington and northern Oregon to northern Idaho and western Montana. The rain may aggravate flooding from melting snow in the northern Rockies.

Rain and thunderstorms are expected from the northern Plains to the lower Great Lakes on Thursday night and into Friday. Thunderstorms may become severe from southern Minnesota through northern Illinois and into southern Michigan.