1. Texas and New Mexico Grapple with Deadly Flood Aftermath:
- Texas: The central Texas region continues to deal with the catastrophic and deadly flooding. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with 129 fatalities reported as of Saturday morning, and concerns of more flash flooding due to renewed rainfall.1 Areas like the Texas Hill Country, including Camp Mystic, remain severely impacted, with the disaster raising questions about the effectiveness of warnings.2 Deep Gulf moisture surging into the region could bring 1-3 inches, with isolated amounts up to 6 inches, increasing flood potential on already saturated ground.
- New Mexico: The mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, is reeling from historic and deadly flash flooding that tragically claimed at least three lives, including two young children.3 The Rio Ruidoso river swelled dramatically, and the flooding was intensified by recent wildfire burn scars.4 Emergency crews performed at least 85 swift-water rescues.
2. Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.:
- A cold front continues to push east across the central U.S., serving as a focus for strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend.5 Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible today in the Upper Midwest, South-Central Texas to the Lower Ohio Valley, and Florida, with primary hazards being wind damage and rainfall-related flooding.6
- National Weather Service – Latest Weather (National Weather Service)
- All Severe Weather Outlooks for the next 8 days (SevereWeatherOutlook.com)
3. Heat Building in the Western U.S., Persistent in the East:
- Heat is building across the Western U.S. and is expected to increase to extreme levels in parts of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Intermountain regions later in the month.
- Much of the Eastern U.S. continues to experience widespread high heat and oppressive humidity, with “feels like” temperatures frequently reaching 100°F or higher. Heat advisories and warnings remain in effect in various regions, as heat-related illnesses increase with prolonged exposure to high heat index values.
- Heat is getting worse in most places. See the heat index where you live (USA Today)
- Probabilistic Hazards Outlook – Climate Prediction Center – NOAA (NOAA Climate Prediction Center)
4. Tropical Outlook & Impacts:
- Forecasters are monitoring a new potential tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico which could bring heavy rains to Florida and the southern U.S. coast over the next several days.7 While development odds are currently low (0% in 2 days, 20% in 7 days), it’s being watched for potential tropical trouble.
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical development in Gulf, near Florida possible next week; what we know (FOX 35 Orlando)
- RSS Tropical Weather Outlook – Florida Disaster (FloridaDisaster.org)
- The Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be above-normal, with concerns about losing key satellites ahead of the peak season potentially impacting forecasting capabilities.8
AI Disclaimer: These headlines were researched and curated with AI assistance to provide a comprehensive and timely overview of current national weather events.