A large ridge of high pressure will persist over the central U.S., promoting continued heat and humidity for the central and southern states. As the ridge expands eastward over the next few days much of the eastern third of the country will see a resurgence of the heat experienced last weekend. A cold front moving along the top of the ridge will continue to trigger thunderstorms as it pushes through the Upper Midwest on Tuesday.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected Tuesday and Wednesday across a very large warm sector stretching from the Great Lakes to the Southeast. Monsoon season continues to ramp up across the Southwest with showers and thunderstorms expected over the Four Corners region and Southern Rockies.
A large ridge of high pressure will persist over the central U.S., promoting continued heat and humidity for the central and southern states. Well above normal temperatures are expected from the Central Plains eastward to the Ohio Valley and southward to the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. Excessive Heat Warnings, Watches, and Heat Advisories remain in effect. As the ridge expands eastward over the next few days, much of the eastern third of the country will see a resurgence of the heat experienced last weekend.
There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across the southern and eastern portions of the Great Lakes Area. Severe thunderstorms are also possible over eastern Montana, western North Dakota and extreme northwestern South Dakota. Yesterday, there were 140 reports of hail and high winds primarily over the upper Great Lakes, central Mississippi Valley, and Florida.
There are critical fire weather areas for southeastern Idaho, southwestern Montana, and northwestern Wyoming today. Nationally, 52 large fires have burned more than 900,000 acres. Thirteen new large fires were reported yesterday. Residents near several large fires across the country remain evacuated.
