Weather

Cool, cloudy and rainy weather will persist Wednesday over northern New England. Sunshine, warm air and calm conditions are expected to spread over the rest of the Northeast and the Midwest.

Tropical moisture is projected to linger from Virginia through the Carolinas to Florida and the central Gulf Coast. This will result in plenty of clouds and high humidity as well as frequent showers and storms.

The Mississippi Valley will be humid, with some sunshine and spotty afternoon storms. Some of the storms could turn severe late in the day along the New Mexico-Texas border as well as in the northern Plains.

Spotty showers and storms will affect the Rockies, mainly in the afternoon. In parts of Montana, river flooding from heavy rainfall and snowmelt may continue.

The combination of dry heat and strong sunshine in the Southwest will result in a risk of spreading wildfires. California will be pleasantly cooler, with plenty of sunshine.

FOCUS: Saturday Outlook

Showers and heavy thunderstorms are expected to expand from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley on Saturday. The storms may be strong across the Great Lakes. Much of the Southwest and the Great Plains will be dry and warm.