Monsoon thunderstorms bring flash flood threat to parts of the West
Scattered thunderstorms swept across parts of the West and Plains Saturday afternoon, bringing the potential for some pockets flash flooding.
The rain is the result of what's known as monsoonal flow, which continues to draw ample moisture from the Gulf and Pacific.
A level 2 of 4 threat for excessive rainfall is in place for parts of eastern New Mexico and western Texas due to rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible in the heaviest storms.
A flood watch is also in effect for Ruidoso, New Mexico, where there is an elevated risk of flash flooding due to the wildfire burn scar areas. If heavy rain impacts that area, flash flooding could quickly develop.
Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in parts of New Mexico and Colorado on Saturday evening bringing the threat of damaging winds and large hail.
Earlier, parts of the High Plains saw spotty storms on Friday -- one of which produced a weak visible tornado in a very rural part of northwest North Dakota.
Scattered storms are possible for parts of the Midwest as well today from Wisconsin down to Indiana, including Milwaukee and Chicago, where 1 to 2 inches with the heaviest storms could produce spotty flash flooding.
These storms in the Midwest are not associated with the monsoonal moisture and will fire up from an unrelated front in the area.
The threat for heavy rain in South Florida is diminishing, however typical scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are still possible in the area through the weekend.
Much of the southeast coast of Florida has gotten in on the heaviest rain this past week, with the Miami area reporting 10.51 inches of rain since Sunday. Other spots have seen between 4 to 7 inches over this week.
Some spotty storms will still be possible for South Florida going into next week, but these will not be as widespread or heavy -- making for a slightly drier pattern.
The central and eastern part of the country will warm up for this weekend, with warmer temperatures likely for next week as well, cutting the fall-like feel for many.
The most seasonably warm temperatures this weekend will be over parts of the Mississippi Valley, where high temperatures will be in the 90s from the Deep South up to Minnesota and South Dakota.
While this is only slightly warmer than what is normal for mid-September for the Gulf Coast, this is 10 to 15 degrees warmer than what is normal for this time of the year for much of the Mississippi Valley -- including for parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Combined with increased humidity, some places could have feel-like temperatures well into the 90s and up to 100 for a few spots. There are no heat alerts currently in effect for anywhere in the country.
Next week, the warmth will begin to spread to parts of the eastern U.S. Much of the eastern half of the country from the Heartland to the coast will be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than what is normal for mid-September, breaking up the fall-feel that millions have been enjoying for the region.
