Storms on the Move: What's Next After the Southwest Soaking?

Just as the Southwest begins to dry out from days of drenching rain and booming thunderstorms, a new round of severe weather is already brewing farther east.

A stubborn upper-level system may be losing strength, but it’s not done causing trouble—sending waves of energy into the southern Plains where conditions are ripe for large hail, damaging winds, and even a few tornadoes. And that’s just the beginning. From the Gulf Coast to the Northeast, millions could feel the impact as stormy skies and flash flood threats march eastward through the weekend.

Less Action Out West, More Storms in the Plains

Today, we’ll get a bit of a breather across the Southwest. Storms won’t be as widespread or intense, which is good news after the recent downpours.

But the focus is now shifting east into the southern High Plains—think eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and parts of Texas.

That’s where the biggest severe weather threat is today, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Two “Enhanced Risk” (level 3 out of 5) are in place, meaning we could see strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, bringing large hail, gusty winds, and possibly even a few tornadoes.

The Storm Track Moves Into the Midwest and Northeast

As we head into Friday, the front tied to all this unsettled weather will slowly push east. That means the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys—and eventually the Northeast—will start to feel the impact, with rounds of rain and thunderstorms likely through Friday night.

Some storms could turn severe here too, especially as warm, humid air gets pulled into the mix.
lightning
Some of the storms that develop could be accompanied by frequent lightning activity.

And heads up, Oklahoma—you're not in the clear yet. Another round of heavy rain and strong storms is expected Friday night into Saturday morning, and that could mean more flash flood concerns.

A Coastal Low Adds More Rain to the East

Meanwhile, along the Southeast coast, a separate system is taking shape. A low-pressure area near the Carolinas is teaming up with tropical moisture to bring soaking rain to the coastal plain.

This system will move northeast, hugging the coast before heading out to sea by Saturday. A few inches of rain are possible in some areas, and that could lead to some localized flooding.

From Cool and Cloudy to Summer Heat

Behind all this active weather, temperatures are running cool—really cool for early June. Highs across parts of the Plains could be 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Cloud cover and lingering showers will also keep things on the cooler side in the Southwest and Southeast.

But it’s a different story out ahead of the front. The Northeast is heating up, with some spots climbing into the 90s today. And by Friday, it’s the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin’s turn to warm up, with a taste of summer heat settling in.

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