Anywhere east of the Mississippi today will feature tons of sun and very warm temperatures between 85 and 95 degrees. That goes way up by the Canadian border, down to the Gulf coast, and just about anywhere in between. The levels of humidity will be increasing as well, with a gentle but noticeable southerly flow coming up out of the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll notice the difference this afternoon compared to yesterday. And tomorrow you’ll notice the difference compared to today. What’s this all leading to?
Look up into the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Here the risk of severe weather has increased to a MODERATE RISK west of the twin cities, with all threats on the table. Wind. Hail. Tornadoes. It could turn out to be a bad Memorial Day afternoon and especially evening in these areas of the country. Heads up here and have multiple ways to get warnings… especially if you are away from home by the lake today. On the backside of the storm we have HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWS across northern Colorado but especially into Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and northern Utah. Thankfully it ends by tomorrow.
Tomorrow the cold front and associated storm push south and east, leaving a trail of thunderstorms and an ENHANCED RISK of all types of severe weather (wind, hail, tornadoes) from the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma to Missouri. The weather also gets into the western and central Great Lakes with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Ahead of it to the south and east: SUMMER. Expect 80s and 90s with high humidity but not totally overbearing. North and west of this storm, cooler with a mix of clouds and sun and a few showers. Wednesday this storm moves into the Northeast, eastern Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley. Thursday it continues to push south and east into the Virginia’s, the Carolinas, and the Tennessee Valley. By the end of the week, most of the severe weather threats have abated. Most of them. But there is one brewing WAY to the south that, depending on the track, could pose a BIG PROBLEM this next weekend and beyond to the state of Florida. That big problem is:
HURRICANE AGATHA. It’s got 110 MPH winds as of the last advisory and it’s in the eastern Pacific, about to slam the southern Mexican coast. Because of its position, it does not have to cross a ton of land to get out on the other side of Mexico into the Atlantic basin side. The Gulf of Mexico, the Bay of Campeche, and towards Cancun. As this hurricane comes onshore, weakens, and drops feet of rain over southern Mexico, what’s left of it is likely to emerge into Atlantic basin waters middle to end of this week. Once it does so, THIS WILL BE THE TIME TO WATCH. Florida, at the moment, looks to be target number one. But it’s several days out and things can change. But with the “official” start of hurricane season being Wednesday, June 1, we have “officially” entered the time of year where we cannot let our guard down on any storm until it’s dead and gone. Any storm. Even a tropical depression or weak tropical storm, depending on how it tracks across the Southeast US, could spell big trouble for severe weather and tornadoes. I’ve seen it happen. I know what to look for. And if I see trouble, I’m telling you guys as soon as possible.
For now, we watch and wait.
To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could be here today and able to give this weather report freely; THANK YOU. You are remembered this Memorial Day.
