Weather

Drier, cooler air and sunshine will prevail Thursday from the Appalachians to much of the East Coast. High pressure will build east from the Ohio Valley, while the jet stream dips south along the East Coast. Clouds, showers and thunderstorms will linger over the Florida Peninsula.

Much of the Midwest can expect a dry and sunny day with low humidity. A few showers and thunderstorms will drift east across the central and northern Plains as warmer air pushes north just east of the Rockies.

Dry weather and above-average temperatures are expected to continue across much of the West. Most areas will be sunny, with clouds, spotty showers and a few drenching thunderstorms anticipated in the Four Corners. A weak mass of cool air will move into Washington and Oregon from the west. Still, this will pale in comparison to much cooler air expected to arrive later this weekend and early next week.

Hurricane Lane is projected to take a curved path just south and west of the Hawaiian Islands. The storm will get close enough to the state to bring dangerous surf and seas as well as possible flooding rain and high winds.

FOCUS: Storms In the Midwest, Hurricane In Hawaii

Heavy rain and severe storms will threaten parts of the Plains and the Midwest on Thursday afternoon and into Thursday night. Hurricane Lane will continue to churn toward Hawaii, bringing flooding rain, damaging winds and very high seas. Plenty of sunshine will return to the Northeast.