Weather Thursday May 2 2024 Ion Weather Severe weather east Texas north to the western Great Lakes

Severe thunderstorm and flash flooding threat exists across parts ofthe central/southern Plains tonight before expanding into the MississippiValley on Thursday...Critical Fire Weather potential over portions of the Southern HighPlains through this evening.Cool and snowy in parts of the Northwest with above average andpotentially record breaking temperatures into the Ohio Valley andMid-Atlantic on ThursdayA very active start to May is underway throughout much of the central andsouthern Plains as scattered to numerous thunderstorms developing thisafternoon are forecast to continue into the overnight hours. Low pressurestrengthening over the central High Plains and an attached warm frontextending through the mid-Mississippi Valley will help draw ample moisturenorthward from the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, convection forming off asouthern High Plains dryline should push eastward across parts of Oklahomaand Texas, with several storms potentially containing very heavy rainfalland training over similar regions. The flash flooding risk is highestacross parts of central and eastern Texas through tonight, where aModerate Risk (level 3/4) of Excessive Rainfall is in effect. Severalinches of rain falling over sensitive and previously saturated terraincould lead to numerous flash floods, with a few significant floodingevents possible. Additionally, a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of ExcessiveRainfall extends northward into central Oklahoma and all of north-centralTexas, with a separate Slight Risk in effect from north-central Kansas towestern Iowa. These regions can also expect scattered thunderstormscontaining intense rainfall rates and possible instances of flash floodingthrough early Thursday. These evening and overnight thunderstorms are alsoexpected to contain damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoesfrom West Texas to south-central Kansas. These regions fall within anEnhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms issued by the StormPrediction Center. As the low pressure system and attached cold frontgradually swings eastward into the Upper Midwest and Mississippi Valley onThursday, showers and thunderstorms are also expected to expand eastward.Scattered severe thunderstorms and flash flooding are possible between alarge area stretching from the Midwest to southern Plains and LowerMississippi Valley, with the threat becoming more isolated across thePlains and Deep South on Friday. Residents and visitors are reminded tohave multiple ways to receive warnings and never drive across floodingroadways.One additional hazard in the central U.S. due to the potent weather systemimpacting the region will be the increased fire weather concerns over thesouthern High Plains through this evening. Low relative humidity combinedwith gusty winds and dry terrain could cause wildfires to develop easilyand spread rapidly. Red Flag Warnings are in effect and stretch fromeastern New Mexico to southeast Colorado, far west Oklahoma, and thenorthwest Texas Panhandle.Elsewhere, a weather pattern consisting of upper-level riding over theEast and troughing over the Northwest will support cooler weather in thenorthern Rockies and Northwest with summer-like warmth spreading fromparts of the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to the below averagetemperatures in the Northwest, snow is likely across the high terrain ofthe northern Rockies through Friday. Meanwhile, the above average warmththroughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic could break dailyhigh temperature records on Thursday as highs reach into the upper 80s andlow 90s. Cooler in New England