Kevin Schneider

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The hottest temperatures of the year are looming later this week. An area of high pressure is loitering over Texas but will be on the move. And looks like it will get stronger. That means intense heat will build for many areas east of the Rocky Mountains later this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043604-1782556571201.png">Temperatures in the afternoons will soar through the 90's, with many threatening the century mark for the first time this year. We'll feel it first building into the Midwest, where ample humidity will make it feel even worse. Already, heat alerts have been issued for parts of the Central United States and more alerts will be added over the next few days. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782613461524.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043650-1782556636480.png">Our high will then take aim at the northeast. By Wednesday and Thursday, highs will be in record territory. Ahead of this heat wave, it will still be above average, prolonging the exposure to the warm temperatures.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043734-1782556715035.png">Heat waves become deadly when they are extended in duration, and complicated by overnight lows struggling to cool off enough. Be sure to mix in plenty of water, even with a holiday weekend coming up. Know the signs to look out for in friends and family.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043943-1782556806519.png">

Jesse Kelley

Dangerous Stretch of Heat Shaping Up This Week

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Dave Holder

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A significant early-summer trough is digging across the western half of the country. Much cooler temperatures across the Northwest, along with increasing severe weather chances across the Great Plains, are expected this weekend.Models continue to indicate the potential for significant snow accumulations, particularly across the Bitterroots and Sawtooth Ranges.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 202458-1782613570550.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/northwestsummersnow-1782613869127.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The latest timing shows the changeover to snow happening overnight and early Sunday morning. Our forecast does show some of the high elevation snow being on the heavy side from time to time.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 202806-1782613694133.png">It will be much cooler for many this weekend. Some locations will be feeling daytime highs that are 15°+ below-average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 202834-1782613721242.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/Screenshot 2026-06-27 202920-1782613767056.png">

Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

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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 92,000 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/2026/06/1-1782613081485.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.<h1>Increasing Danger</h1>A strong trough is increasing winds, leading to critical and extreme fire weather conditions. Sunday the risk goes down to critical but fire activity remains very high. Have a go bag ready and an evacuation route in mind!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782613198801.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 133154-1782588720274.png">Winds are expected to be strong this weekend, sustained at 20-30 mph for some areas, with very low humidity. That could mean ongoing fires could become erratic and unpredictable.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043144-1782556311355.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.

Massive Fires Burn in Utah, Extreme Fire Danger Continues This Weekend

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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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 Mid South 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. <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><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1782612588554.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For the overnight, a few storms could still be severe across parts of the Ohio Valley before being steering into the Carolinas for Sunday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 133648-1782589019330.png">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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782612765591.png">

'MCS' Season Brings Severe and Flooding Threats Across the Southeast

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Early in the season, we watch closer to the coasts here at home for development in the Hurricane Season. Until the waves coming off the coast of Africa start to fly and quit losing the battle to Saharan Dust, old fronts are the leading source of development.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 065319-1782582900361.png">The frontal boundary that is slowly taking it's time to move through the southeast will eventually exit offshore early next week. Some models handle the process differently, but the one that leans more toward development is the European model. Here, it forms an area of low pressure around Monday and lingers offshore through the middle of the week. A longer time over water will give it a better chance to develop tropical characteristics.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 063519-1782563830977.jpg">Other models move whatever develops over the water back on land prior to anything becoming tropical. IF something were to be named, Bertha is the next name up on the list.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 063531-1782563982336.jpg">

New Area to Monitor in the Atlantic

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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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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!

Severe Threat Tracks into the Northeast Friday

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Tracey Anthony

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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;

Flood Threat Persists This Week

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Hopefully by now you've already hit up your local ski swap, waxed your snowboard and purchased your season pass! If so, it looks like you're going skiing/riding this weekend! Well, that is if you can get to one of the following places:

<img class="size-full wp-image-98692" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/10/Capture3-3.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" /> Ski resorts that are open for the weekend of October 20-21, 2018

The six ski resorts that are open (that we know of) are:
<ul>
 	<li>Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (Colorado)</li>
 	<li>Killington (Vermont)</li>
 	<li>Loveland (Colorado)</li>
 	<li>Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe (Nevada)</li>
 	<li>Sunday River (Maine)</li>
 	<li>Wolf Creek (Colorado)</li>
</ul>
Killington in Vermont is one of the mountains that makes an earnest attempt at becoming the first ski resort to open in the East. They opened Friday and posted this exciting video:

https://www.facebook.com/killingtonresort/videos/472289963263691/

The other big competitor for 'First to Open in the East' is Sunday River in Maine. They also opened Friday with this tweet:

https://twitter.com/sundayriver/status/1053280973146722306

Ski areas in the East have had to heavily depend on making the snow, due to predominently warmer-than-average temperatures this Autumn. In the West, it has been more of the natural snow for places like Arapahoe Basin in Colorado.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-98695 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/10/Capture2-5.jpg" alt="Six Resorts You Can Ski This Weekend" width="1920" height="1080" />

Wolf Creek in Colorado was the first to open in the country the weekend of October 13-14, but joining them is now Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.

https://twitter.com/MtRoseSkiTahoe/status/1053305325963497472

The weather conditions will be breezy this weekend for skiers and riders. There may be some mountain snow showers in the Northeast on Sunday for Killington and Sunday River. The warmer day for the East will be Saturday, much colder on Sunday. In the West, expect mild conditions with wind at times and perhaps some snow showers on Sunday.

For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier