Tracey Anthony

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It's been one or the other for a little while on the plains: severe storms keeping temperatures in check or letting them run wild. They're running wild over the next few days, which could again power some storms...RELATED: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-storms-possible-in-the-plains-midwest-to-end-the-week">Severe Chances on the Plains</a>A strong ridge of high pressure is migrating eastward over the next few days. That brings it squarely over the southern and central plains by the end of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778810616377.png">Highs look to be the worst in the Southern Plains in terms of raw temperatures, closing in on the century mark. Farther north, temperatures will top out in the 90's, nearly 30 degrees warmer than normal for them.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778810761024.png">If records are to be broken in the afternoons, anywhere with a pink dot would be a candidate. Be sure to practice heat safety throughout the end of the week. Cooler weather looks like it'll return by the start of next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-14 172907-1778801354504.png">As this heat shifts east this weekend, more record highs could potentially push to the eastern United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-14 173017-1778801425614.png">

Jesse Kelley

Sweltering Temperatures Slide Eastward This Week

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, waters in the tropical Pacific tend to warm faster than in the Atlantic; thus, the season starts about two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pacific. The CPC has moderate confidence in the formation of a tropical system in the Eastern Pacific going through the end of May into June. If you have travel plans along the SW coast of Mexico, stay up to date with the forecast. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-13 054445-1778672697750.png"> If a storm were to form and reach tropical storm status, it would be named Amanda. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080308-1777731407202.png">Ocean heat content has been rapidly increasing in the Eastern Pacific this Spring, which is not surprising. You might've heard about the potential for a "super" El Niño this summer. Well, the warm water created in the Eastern/Central Pacific by El Niño can lead to supercharged hurricane seasons in those regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080401-1777731353504.png">Global circulations influenced by El Niño tend to create less disruptive wind shear in the Eastern Pacific as well. Weak upper-level winds combined with warm waters tend to lead to the development of many tropical systems. At the same time, wind shear tends to increase in the Caribbean during these events, making it tougher for tropical systems to form and survive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080343-1777731377186.png">Last season was quite active in the Eastern Pacific, with 20 named storms and 5 major hurricanes. The Mexican National Meteorological Service issued an early outlook for the 2026 season in April, calling for another active year with roughly 20 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 081157-1777731386253.png">El Niño typically increases wind shear in the Atlantic, which is a primary reason why some forecasts are calling for a slightly less active season. The Atlantic averages 14 named storms a season. Despite the El Niño, the forecast is just slightly below average with 13 named storms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-08 065820-1778245110818.png">We're going to get you ready for hurricane season at the beginning of June. Be sure to tune in for updated forecasts, information, and tips to prepare.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 083105-1777732279156.png">

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

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Dave Holder

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On the heels of severe thunderstorm activity to end the week, another strong upper-level trough will be dropping across the Great Plains this weekend. Model data continues to hint at stronger ingredients coming together, including instability and wind shear. The SPC highlighted a risk area on Saturday, with a particular emphasis on Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa (above). <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-14 171517-1778800525656.png">By Sunday, moderate to high instability will be building in. Southwesterly winds aloft and southerly winds at the surface will enhance wind shear, and changing wind direction with height would increase the tornado threat. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/weekendplainsstorms-1778800661157.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Storms are expected to develop along several fronts, including a developing dryline across the High Plains. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-14 170219-1778800760751.png">While isolated thunderstorms may form along the dryline, Sunday's outlook features a higher risk area across Siouxland by the end of the weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-14 171906-1778800888058.png">A similar setup will present itself on Monday, with strong upper-level winds increasing wind shear over an unstable atmosphere.

Widespread Significant Severe Weather Possible This Weekend

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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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High pressure creating near record heat will give way to several storm systems in the Plains and Midwest through the end of this week and even over the weekend. As areas of low pressure exit the Rockies, they'll tap into warmth and humidity to create severe weather chances on Thursday and Friday. Another series of lows will keep the threat going over the weekend, as well.<h1>Thursday</h1>Thursday's risk will be focused along the warm and cold front of a developing surface low, with a higher risk in Kansas and across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778781884685.png">Wind and hail will be the primary threats, but hail could be significant. Significant hail is larger than 2 inches in diameter (bigger than a golf ball) and can do serious damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778781930060.png">The threats shift slightly north on Friday, still with a focused slight risk (level 2 out of 5) from Kansas into Missouri, but also includes Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778782001755.png"><h1>Forecast</h1>The afternoons are when storms are expected to initiate, but severe weather will be possible late into the evening or even overnight once they start. This means you should review your method to get severe weather alerts to make sure they will wake you up if necessary.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778782098484.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Since storms won't be widespread, only spotty heavy rain is expected. While flash flooding can't be ruled out, rainfall rates likely won't be high enough to warrant an outlook.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778782130633.png">

Patrick Crawford

Severe Storms Possible in the Plains & Midwest To End the Week

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A low-pressure system will linger in New England through the end of the week, bringing scattered showers and gusty winds at times.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2054720850402619803" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2054720850402619803"></div><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061131-1778765024932.png"></h2><h2>THU - FRI</h2>The surface low will linger in New England Thursday into Friday before moving offshore this weekend. Expect scattered showers and a few thunderstorms in New England Thursday, with some heavy rain at times in Maine, before lingering showers get lighter and become fewer on Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778782373059.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Through Saturday morning, New England can expect to see a few inches of rain with some isolated totals over 4-5" in Southern Maine and New Hampshire.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778782488770.png">

Widespread Significant Severe Weather Possible This Weekend

Severe Storms Possible in the Plains & Midwest To End the Week

Stormy and Wet Weather Continues for the Northeast

Sweltering Temperatures Slide Eastward This Week

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Widespread Significant Severe Weather Possible This Weekend

Severe Storms Possible in the Plains & Midwest To End the Week

Stormy and Wet Weather Continues for the Northeast

Sweltering Temperatures Slide Eastward This Week

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Widespread Significant Severe Weather Possible This Weekend

Severe Storms Possible in the Plains & Midwest To End the Week

Stormy and Wet Weather Continues for the Northeast