Severe Storms, Flash Flooding and Dangerous Heat Threaten Much of the U.S. Through Saturday

The National Weather Service is warning of overlapping severe-weather and heat threats across different parts of the United States through Saturday, August 1. The forecast includes severe thunderstorms and flash flooding from the Plains into the Midwest, additional flood risks in New England, the Southeast and the Four Corners, and heat indexes that may reach 105 to 115 degrees across the South.

This is not a single nationwide storm or a formal nationwide emergency declaration. Instead, the Weather Prediction Center’s short-range forecast discussion describes several weather systems affecting different regions at the same time.

What the federal forecast says

The Weather Prediction Center issued its discussion at 1:59 a.m. EDT Thursday, July 30. The discussion is valid from 12Z Thursday, July 30, through 12Z Saturday, August 1, covering the period when the forecast hazards are expected to develop or continue.

The main concerns are organized thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and dangerous heat. Local National Weather Service offices will issue the watches and warnings that determine immediate action for specific communities.

Storm and flood threats shift east

Through Friday, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding are possible from portions of the central and northern Plains into the Midwest. The Weather Prediction Center says repeated rounds of storms may produce heavy downpours, particularly where storms move over the same areas.

On Friday, the excessive-rainfall and severe-thunderstorm threat is expected to shift eastward into the Upper Midwest and Mid-Mississippi Valley. That does not mean every location in those regions will see severe weather, but residents should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, including damaging winds, hail, intense rainfall and localized flooding.

A recent storm in Wisconsin illustrates the type of impact severe weather can produce. The National Weather Service office in Green Bay reported downed trees and power lines, hail larger than 2 inches in several locations and a tornado in the Appleton and Menasha areas with a preliminary EF3 rating and estimated peak winds of 140 mph. The rating remains preliminary.

Separate flash-flood risks remain

New England faces additional rainfall through Thursday, with isolated flash flooding possible, especially where soils are saturated from earlier rain.

The Southeast and portions of the lower Mississippi Valley remain at risk for excessive rainfall through Friday. Showers and thunderstorms may produce damaging winds in parts of the Southeast, while repeated heavy rain could overwhelm drainage systems or cause flooding in low-lying areas.

In the Four Corners region, monsoonal moisture is expected to support afternoon and evening thunderstorms through Friday, with a flash-flood threat continuing through Saturday. The most vulnerable locations include burn scars, slot canyons, dry washes and other terrain where water can rise quickly.

Dangerous heat expands beyond the South

Heat will remain a major concern across the South through Saturday. The Weather Prediction Center says high humidity combined with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s and low 100s could produce heat indexes of 105 to 115 degrees. Those conditions are expected to bring widespread Major and isolated Extreme HeatRisk levels.

Dangerous heat is also expected to expand into the Southwest and portions of the Intermountain West from Thursday into Friday, then reach the northern High Plains by Saturday. Heat intensity and official alerts will vary by location, so residents should rely on local forecasts rather than assuming conditions will be the same across an entire state or region.

What residents should do now

People in the Plains, Midwest and Mississippi Valley should monitor local alerts for severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail and rapidly worsening flood conditions. Anyone in a flood-prone area should be ready to move to higher ground if officials issue a warning.

During extreme heat, limit strenuous outdoor activity, drink water regularly and check on older adults, children, people with medical conditions and anyone without reliable cooling. Outdoor workers and people traveling through exposed areas face added risk.

Travelers should check alerts before driving through heavy rain or severe storms. Never drive through a flooded roadway, even if the water appears shallow. Storms may also cause power outages, blocked roads and travel delays that continue after the rain ends.

The next key developments will be the movement of the storm corridor, local watch and warning decisions, and any changes to excessive-rainfall or heat-risk areas. Local warnings—not the broad national forecast alone—will determine what action is needed in each community.

What hazards are you seeing in your area? Share the highest-impact conditions or local warnings you are tracking.

Sources

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