Weekly Highlights August 17th to 23rd

This week we will see a hurricane get close to the US, hot and dry conditions continue in the West, and daily chances for severe weather in the Plains and parts of the Eastern US. To start the week, we will see some gusty storms in the Plains into the Upper Great Lakes, and parts of the Northeast. Once again, the High Plains into the Upper Great Lakes continues to see multiple chances for severe storms to develop. Sunday to Monday and Thursday into Friday will be the best chances for the Plains and Upper Great Lakes to see storms. Dew point temps in the High Plains and Upper Great Lakes will decrease as the week goes on, so the likelihood of tornadoes will diminish throughout the week. Monday into Tuesday looks to be stormy in the Plains, Midwest, and portions of the Mississippi Valley. After the last two days of severe weather the Midwest and Plains will continue to see daily chances for severe weather to develop, and with heavy rains some areas could see some localized flooding. Thursday into Friday the Southeast could see some storms develop, with severe storms developing in portions of Texas and extending to the East.

Hurricane Erin currently  a Cat 3 storm, impacting the Virgin Island and Puerto Rico. Mid-week Hurricane Erin will lose some strength as she starts her turn to the North in the Atlantic, and will more thank likely be a Cat 2 storm. Her current trajectory looks to slide in between Bermuda and the East Coast. The Outer Banks of North Carolina could see some wind gusts and rains from Erin’s outer bands. As the week goes on, we will have to keep an eye on just how far inland those rains bands will extend.

The West will continue to be hot and dry. These conditions are not helping the wildfires that are still burning throughout the West. We are also still dealing withthe smoke from the Canadian wildfires coming down through much of the Eastern US.

By Matt K.

Meteorologist In-Training