Flood threats impact parts of the West, hot and stormy weather continues in Florida

Monsoonal flow is expected to bring heavy rain and scattered storms over the Plains this weekend, while southern Florida continues to experience hot and stormy weather.

The monsoonal flow is drawing moisture from the Gulf and Pacific, leading to a chance of heavy rain and scattered storms over parts of the Four Corners and the Plains. There is a level 2 out of 4 threat for excessive rainfall in eastern New Mexico and western Texas, with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible in the heaviest storms.

Areas from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to southern Wyoming and Nebraska may also see spotty storms and heavy rain, with some storms capable of producing rainfall rates up to 1 inch per hour. Ruidoso, New Mexico, is on alert for flooding along its burn scar on Saturday.

Parts of the High Plains experienced spotty storms on Friday, including a weak visible tornado in northwest North Dakota. Scattered storms may develop in these areas on Saturday, potentially leading to flash flooding and strong winds.

In the Midwest, from Wisconsin to Indiana, including Milwaukee and Chicago, scattered storms are possible, with the heaviest storms capable of producing 1 to 2 inches of rainfall and spotty flash flooding. These storms are unrelated to the monsoonal moisture.

Southern Florida is expected to continue facing hot and stormy weather over the weekend. The southeast coast of Florida has already received significant rainfall, with the Miami area reporting 10.51 inches of rain since Sunday. Some scattered storms are expected on Saturday, with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall possible in the heaviest storms.

Moving into next week, some spotty storms may still impact South Florida, but the pattern is expected to be slightly drier.

The central and eastern parts of the country will warm up over the weekend and into next week, with temperatures rising above normal for mid-September. The Mississippi Valley is expected to see high temperatures in the 90s, with increased humidity making it feel even hotter. Despite the warm temperatures, there are no heat alerts currently in effect.

Next week, the warmth will spread to the eastern U.S., with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal for mid-September. This will mark a departure from the fall-like weather that many have been enjoying in the region.