WeatherNation Meteorologists

headshotspng-1676305264677.png

It has been an active summer for portions of the Northern Plains, with several rounds of severe weather even during the last week. Another low will spur additional severe weather threats this weekend into Monday. Damaging winds and large hail will be the biggest threats. The tornado threat will be isolated, but possible. Daytime heating will provide instability, with afternoons and evenings offering the best chance of severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/FD-1787965655416.png">Some storms may hold together into the overnight hours, but expect more rounds of severe weather to develop on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-29 06-52-10-1788007985498.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Most will see around a quarter of an inch or less of rain, but there will be localized heavier rainfall in the storms that develop over the next few days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 065017-1788007844665.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 065023-1788007836844.png">For the latest updates on these storms, make sure to tune into the central regional forecast:30 past the hour.

Rob Bradley

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

Screenshot20260829061635png-1788005768509.png

Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Atlantic on Thursday. Former Invest 96-L was able to create a clearly defined center of circulation Thursday morning with robust convection. The system encountered strong winds which broke the system apart. These remnants have a low chance to develop again, but will still bring heavy rain to the Caribbean and the Bahamas in the days ahead.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/remnttt-1787954738966.png">Puerto Rico has seen dire drought conditions and is in desperate need of rain. Still, with dry ground and hilly terrain, flash flooding will be a threat. Interests in the Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should stay updated on the forecast in the coming days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 063657-1787920639757.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 054609-1788003975626.png">Another low pressure system in the northern Gulf is being monitored for development. This weak low needs time to get organized but it probably won't have it. Most models expect to the low to move onshore by Monday, which would stop any development that occurs prior. A few heavy thunderstorms are expected on the north side of the low in the central Gulf.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 054650-1788004064974.png">El Niño has been smothering tropical waves in the Atlantic this summer, with four named storms to date but only 12% of average cyclone energy! This doesn't mean the rest of the season will be just as quiet, however, as 66% of all hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs between August 20th and October 10th. The climatological peak of Atlantic Hurricane Season is September 10.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 090839-1787843332378.png">

NHC Monitoring Two Areas in the Atlantic

Screenshot20260829053001png-1788003006822.png

Brittany Lockley

BrittanyLockleyjpeg-1679519515040.jpeg

The Pacific hurricane season is showing no signs of slowing down as multiple tropical systems churn across the basin, with warm ocean temperatures and a strengthening El Niño helping create favorable conditions for development.Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell are among the latest systems to form over the open Pacific. Both storms are forecast to strengthen as they remain over warm water and could reach hurricane intensity this weekend.Karina is moving northwest across the Eastern Pacific and is expected to continue strengthening while remaining over the open ocean. The storm is not currently expected to pose a direct threat to land.Farther west, Lowell is also forecast to intensify. The system is expected to make several changes in direction before eventually tracking westward this weekend. Lowell could become a hurricane by Saturday night<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 061110-1788005511690.png">While Lowell remains far southeast of Hawaii, its longer-range track will be monitored closely. Some forecast guidance suggests the system could eventually move into the Central Pacific, potentially bringing indirect impacts to Hawaii. However, there remains considerable uncertainty in the forecast at that range.The active pattern may not end with the current systems. There is also another area southwest of Mexico where an area of low pressure could develop this weekend. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are expected to become favorable for additional organization, giving the disturbance a high chance of tropical development over the next several days.Another disturbance south of Hawaii is also being watched, although its chances of development are currently much lower.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 061216-1788005564238.png">El Niño Helping Fuel Pacific Activity<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 063244-1788006785219.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Niño continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific.El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures across portions of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Those unusually warm waters can influence weather patterns around the globe while also creating an environment that can favor tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 063337-1788006834640.png">This year’s El Niño has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.While the Pacific remains crowded with tropical systems, many of the current storms are expected to remain over open water. Still, with several additional areas being monitored, the active stretch of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season is far from over.Click here for more on what is happening in the Atlantic Basin:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/atlantic-tropics-watching-several-areas-strong-tropical-wave-next-week"> Atlantic Tropics.</a>

Pacific Tropics Active as El Niño Fuels Two Tropical Storms

Screenshot20260829062856png-1788007605569.png

Tracey Anthony

Tracey2jpeg-1737574224773.jpeg

High pressure continues to dominate the Southwest. Extreme Heat Warnings (in pink) have been issued for cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Yuma. Heat Advisories (in orange) have been issued across the Inland Empire of California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 192300-1787793786105.png">We started the week with plenty of triple digits across the Southwest; even Los Angeles has reached 95° or warmer the last 6 days! Most of the Southwest, which is normally hot, will have many cities running above average and breaking records through Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/sat - mon-1787954440332.png">By Sunday, we will start to feel the impacts of the trough that is digging into the PNW and the cooler air associated with it. Los Angeles will see temperatures drop down to the mid to low 80s by midweek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/LOS ANGELES 22-1787966088092.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest.

Jackie Brown

Extreme Heat In Los Angeles and the Southwest

ridgeofpng-1787966163844.png

Kevin Schneider

A021DDE71AA34C50BB5468289EA6B1D7jpeg-1699372868991.jpeg

<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2093066020558872742" src="https://x.com/weathernation/status/2093066020558872742?s=46"></div>Strong storms and flash flooding hammered the I-95 corridor Thursday afternoon. Numerous flash flood warnings were issued to accompany storms with strong downdraft winds. As the front lingers on Friday, expect more storms during the afternoon and evening with potential for strong wind gusts and flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 064245-1787920984704.png">While wind is the primary severe weather hazard, a tornado or waterspout is not of the question.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-28 06-46-58-1787921243269.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some areas received 2-6 inches of rain on Thursday, with more on the way today. That means some areas will be more susceptible for flooding to develop again.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 064317-1787921016407.png">We will have more updates and live coverage on this risk all day on Friday, so make sure to tune in to WeatherNation for the latest .

East Coast Storm Threat Lingers Friday

Screenshot20260828074943png-1787924987086.png