Weather

Drenching showers and thunderstorms are expected to extend across the East on Friday, along the leading edge of a cooler and less humid air mass. Showers and thunderstorms will occur in many areas from Maine to Missouri. This will increase the risk of flash flooding, even though the storms are projected to move more quickly than in recent days. Strong gusts may also accompany some of the downpours. Most areas from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes can expect dry weather and sunshine. While temperatures will increase across the High Plains, most areas to the east will be cooler and less humid than earlier in the week.

In the South, storms should be more widely separated than during the beginning of the week. Still, as hot and humid conditions persist, storms may cluster over parts of East Texas, Louisiana and the Florida Peninsula.

Much of the West can expect dry and sunny conditions. Temperatures will rise to hot levels over much of the Southwest, including Southern California. A few storms are expected over the southern Rockies as more humid air moves north from Mexico. Spotty showers from a Pacific storm may reach parts of northwestern Washington later on Friday.

FOCUS: Southwest Monsoon Begins

Increasing thunderstorms across the interior Southwest later this weekend and into next week will signal the start of the Southwest monsoon. The heaviest storms will affect parts of Arizona and New Mexico, with possible flash flooding.