Weather

The upper Great Lakes to the Central Plains will be at risk for flash flooding from torrential downpours Saturday. Recent rains have overflowed streams in parts of the nation, and further showers, even in moderate amounts, could lead to flooding this weekend and next week. Additional isolated storms may bring strong winds and hail.

Downpours will drench areas from Florida to Louisiana ahead of a weak tropical disturbance near the Bahamas, which could strengthen into a tropical storm as it enters the Gulf of Mexico next week. The East can expect spotty torrential downpours during this time. The air over much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation will remain very warm and very humid, except for parts of the northern Plains and New England.

In the West, most areas can expect a continuation of dry and sunny conditions. Dry brush and lack of rainfall will elevate the risk of wildfires. are expected for parts of the New Mexico, Arizona and Utah deserts, as well as for the mountains, foothills and plains of Colorado. There are no signs of any enduring precipitation for areas hit hard by wildfires.

FOCUS: Widespread Warmth This Summer

Meteorological summer, which includes the months of June, July and August, was abnormally warm across most of the continental United States. The Southwest and Great Lakes region had the highest temperatures above average for this time of year.