Tracey Anthony

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Photo: Iron Fire getting doused with a retardant drop. USFS <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2070303528321737022" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2070303528321737022"></div>UTAH - Numerous wildfires continue to burn across Utah, scorching tens of thousands of acres across the state.One of the most significant fires is the Cottonwood Fire, which began on June 22, 2026, and has experienced rapid growth fueled by dry vegetation, gusty winds, and ongoing drought conditions. The fire more than doubled in size on Wednesday, growing from approximately 30,000 acres to more than 70,000 acres. According to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/fishlake/alerts/cottonwood-fire-closure-order">Fishlake National Forest</a>, the fire has prompted mandatory evacuation orders across portions of the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-26 161700-1782512245718.png">Meanwhile, the Iron Fire burning near Eureka, Utah, has prompted Governor Spencer Cox to authorize funding to support firefighting efforts. The authorization makes FEMA assistance available to cover 75% of the state's eligible firefighting costs through an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires.Smoke from these wildfires has become a concern well beyond Utah. Plumes have spread into Colorado, prompting daily Air Quality Alerts across parts of the state.<h1>Increasing Danger</h1>Fire weather danger will be multi-faceted the next several days, with the risk for additional new thunderstorms into the weekend. Thunderstorms are expected in the region, but heavy rain will not fall everywhere where lightning occurs. Be on the lookout for new plumes of smoke and alert authorities right away if you see one.A strong trough is increasing winds, leading to critical and extreme fire weather conditions. The extreme risk is rare, meaning conditions are expected to lead to rapid fire spread rates, becoming unstoppable for areas in pink. Have a go bag ready and an evacuation route in mind!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-26 161833-1782512328471.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-25 071507-1782393366920.png">Winds are expected to be intense on Friday, sustained at 20-30 mph for some areas, with very low humidity.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-26 161928-1782512375315.png">Residents are encouraged to stay informed, follow local evacuation orders, and do their part to help prevent the start and spread of wildfires this summer.

Dave Holder

Massive Fires Burn in Utah, Extreme Fire Danger Continues Into the Weekend

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A significant early-summer trough is expected to dig across the western half of the country through the weekend and into early next week. Much cooler temperatures across the Northwest, along with increasing severe weather chances across the Great Plains, are expected by Saturday.The Northwest will be the first to feel the impacts of the incoming system, as rain chances increase Thursday night and daytime highs dip to well below seasonal averages. Winter Storm Watches have been issued for parts of Montana and Idaho for increasing heavy snow chances above 6500 feet.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782420794137.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1782420715090.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/PIC 2-1782506730714.jpg">By the weekend, some locations will be feeling daytime highs that are 15°+ below-average. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782420831508.png">As stronger upper-level winds overspread heat and humidity building each afternoon across the Plains, severe weather will be likely several days in a row. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted areas across the Dakotas and Northern Minnesota for severe weather this weekend into early next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782420927842.png">

Patrick Crawford

Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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As Summer settles in across the Central U.S., MCSs, also known as Mesoscale Convective Systems, become more prevalent. These large clusters of thunderstorms can organize and persist for hours, travel hundreds of miles, and produce all modes of severe weather. The weather pattern over the next few days will favor repeated rounds of these storm complexes across the Plains &amp; Midwest.Strong and severe thunderstorms remain possible in the southern Plains over the next few days as storms ride a ridge of high pressure. This will target the same areas through the end of the week to see severe weather. Due to high levels of Gulf moisture, storms firing off the Rockies, a storm boundary in the southern Plains, and an increasing low-level jet at night, the severe storm risk for these areas is strongest after dark and into the overnight hours.<h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/what-is-an-mcs">WHAT IS AN MCS: READ MORE HERE</a></h4>Storms that form in the Rockies will continue to push east along the stalled boundary, producing heavy rain and gusty winds. By the afternoon, the developing low-pressure system will spur a new round of storms, with increased tornado and hail potential. Storms will track east with the low into Friday, with isolated severe storms and flooding expected. By Saturday, a few storms will linger, but the pattern changes as high pressure begins to move in.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/FORECAST-1782506916121.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe storms across Kansas, Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, Missouri, and Arkansas on Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/PIC 2-1782506802827.jpg">These storms will dump rain on the same areas, increasing the risk of flooding in some of the same spots that already flooded earlier this week. For more on the flooding risk, read this <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-this-weekend">related article</a> on the flood potential.

'MCS' Season Takes Hold with Severe Weather & Flooding Threats for the Plains & Midwest

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Another day, another Illinois tornado. That's just how this spring has gone in the Midwest. A low pressure system brought numerous severe storms to the Midwest on Wednesday, including large hail and flooding in Wisconsin, with strong winds, a tornado, and flooding in Illinois.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2070122338226749842" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2070122338226749842"></div><h1>Forecast</h1>The low pressure system that spawned Wednesday's storms is now moving east into New England bringing severe weather chances for Friday. A new low forms along the same front to also produce a severe risk across the Ohio River Friday. This is primarily for the threat of damaging winds but an isolated tornado or two will be possible (top of page).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782440323140.png">The stalled boundary will the focal point for storms on Friday. The first low moving across the Northeast will produce severe storms across parts of New England. Secondly, as the new coming out of Missouri will produce severe weather for Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Kentucky during the afternoon and evening hours. All modes will be possible. The front slides into the Carolinas bringing the Carolinas at play for severe weather on Saturday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1782440710501.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>As a trailing low moves in on Saturday, a few more severe storms will be possible as the low tracks into the Southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/pic5-1782421830617.png">Heavy rainfall will accompany strong storms, leading to isolated flood potential. The higher chance for flooding will stick to areas along and west of the Appalachians, through the Ohio River, and up to I-70.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782440751771.png">You Eastern Regional Forecast can be viewed on demand anytime with the WeatherNation app, or tune in live at :10 past the hour!

Jesse Kelley

Severe Threat Tracks into the Northeast Friday

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2069873194111062392" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2069873194111062392"></div>New rounds of rainfall are expected to continue to move in from the High Plains and down to the South over the next few days. With additional rain across saturated soils, the WPC has issued Excessive Rainfall Outlooks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061107-1782396238753.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061131-1782396247909.png">While severe weather will be a concern, heavy rainfall may become the more widespread threat. Abundant atmospheric moisture will allow storms to produce intense downpours, and some areas could see rainfall rates of more than an inch per hour. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms moving over the same locations may quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-24 201258-1782353603628.png">We will continue to monitor the progression of the system as it moves across the region. Residents in areas prone to flooding or severe weather are encouraged to stay informed of the latest forecasts and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts throughout the weekend.&nbsp;

'MCS' Season Takes Hold with Severe Weather & Flooding Threats for the Plains & Midwest

Severe Threat Tracks into the Northeast Friday

Flood Threat Persists This Week

Massive Fires Burn in Utah, Extreme Fire Danger Continues Into the Weekend

Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

'MCS' Season Takes Hold with Severe Weather & Flooding Threats for the Plains & Midwest

Severe Threat Tracks into the Northeast Friday

Flood Threat Persists This Week

Massive Fires Burn in Utah, Extreme Fire Danger Continues Into the Weekend

Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

'MCS' Season Takes Hold with Severe Weather & Flooding Threats for the Plains & Midwest

Severe Threat Tracks into the Northeast Friday

Flood Threat Persists This Week