Weather

Clean-up & recovery in the wake of recent severe weather; a short-respite in the active pattern across the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, Thursday’s outbreak of severe weather resulted in hundreds of reports of wind damage, mainly across northern and central sections of Illinois and Indiana, but extending into portions of neighboring states. Early Friday, lingering shower activity has shifted into the lower Midwest, as cooler, drier air overspreads the remainder of the Corn Belt. Most Midwestern summer crops have ample moisture for optimal development.

On the Plains, near- or below-normal temperatures have replaced previously hot conditions. Thunderstorms linger in a few areas, primarily across the southeastern Plains. Despite wetter weather in recent weeks, topsoil moisture was still rated at least 30% very short to short on June 7 in each of the region’s states, led by Colorado at 87%.

In the South, hot, humid weather prevails, with Friday’s high temperatures again expected to reach 100°F in parts of Virginia and the Carolinas. Showers and thunderstorms are occurring early today in parts of the mid-South and interior Southeast. Later today, the threat of severe weather will shift into the middle Atlantic States, where pastures in Virginia and North Carolina are still struggling (rated more than 50% very poor to poor on June 7) due to drought.

In the West, heat continues to build northward, especially in the Pacific Coast States. Later Friday, high temperatures should reach 105°F or higher as far north as California’s Sacramento Valley. Additionally, there is a broadly elevated wildfire threat across portions of the central Rockies and Intermountain West.