NEW DELHI: After days of severe
flooding
, Florida and other states are now preparing for an intense
heat wave
. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest braces for unusually cold weather with the potential for late-season
snow
in the Rocky Mountains early next week.
Forecasters warn of potential
severe thunderstorms
forming between the hot and cold fronts, which could lead to flash flooding between eastern Nebraska and northern Wisconsin on Saturday night.
Parts of eastern Montana into North and South Dakota may also experience strong storms.
Tropical moisture is expected to arrive at the central Gulf Coast within the next couple of days, bringing heavy rain by Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters noted that the threat of heavy rains in Florida is decreasing. However, thunderstorms that do develop could cause localized flooding due to saturated soil. Persistent storms recently flooded areas between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with some regions experiencing up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rainfall.
This damaging storm system coincided with the early June start of hurricane season. This year is predicted to be one of the most active in recent memory, with concerns that climate change is increasing the intensity of storms.
With floodwaters receding in Florida, temperatures are rising across much of the southern U.S.
In Atlanta, temperatures are expected to near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on Saturday and Sunday. The city has opened a cooling center to provide relief from the heat.
'Family and Friends Field Day' has been postponed because of the high temperatures forecast.
In El Paso, Texas, temperatures on Saturday are expected to hit around 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius). The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region through Monday morning. The city has opened five cooling centers that will operate daily until further notice.
Last year, US recorded the most heat waves—abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days—since 1936. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the South and Southwest experienced the worst conditions on record last year.
The upcoming heat wave will intensify on Sunday in the central part of the country before spreading eastward, said the National Weather Service. Some areas may see their daily temperature records broken due to the extreme heat. This heat wave could persist all week and into the weekend in many locations.
While much of the country deals with the season's first hot weather stretch, parts of Montana are facing a different situation. They have been placed under winter storm watches with the possibility of wet snow starting Monday night.
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