College Park, MD – A significant weather pattern change is expected across much of the United States between May 16-20, bringing increasing risks for severe thunderstorms, excessive rainfall, flooding, and dangerous heat, according to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.
According to NOAA forecasters, moisture is expected to rapidly return to the Central United States beginning this weekend, fueling multiple rounds of thunderstorms from the Plains into parts of the Midwest and Mississippi Valley.
The Weather Prediction Center said some storms could become strong to severe, especially across portions of the Central Plains and Midwestern states where severe weather risks are expected to persist through much of the period.
Heavy rainfall may also become a growing concern from Texas northward into portions of the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Upper Midwest. Forecasters warned that repeated rounds of thunderstorms could lead to localized flooding and excessive rainfall concerns in some areas.
Meanwhile, a strengthening upper-level ridge is expected to build across the eastern half of the country, allowing temperatures to surge well above seasonal averages early next week.
The National Weather Service said hazardous heat criteria could potentially be reached across portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic by Monday and Tuesday, May 18-19. Cities from Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to Washington, D.C., and surrounding regions may experience increasing heat-related impacts.
Additional weather concerns include heavy precipitation potential in parts of Alaska and isolated high wind risks in portions of the western United States.
Forecasters emphasized that confidence in exact storm placement and rainfall totals will continue evolving over the coming days, but residents across the central and eastern U.S. are encouraged to closely monitor forecast updates heading into the weekend.
