Heavy rains are likely in parts of the Upper Midwest and long the Gulf Coast. 

If you need rain and live south of Interstate 70, you have a pretty good chance the next five days.  [I-70 runs from near Washington, DC to central Utah.] Update 3:10pm CDT The pale blue area is where the NWS is forecasting scattered flooding between now and Sunday morning. 

Looks like a wet period in the South with the holiday weekend coming up.  Normally, I would say "that is a shame" but we need so much rain in some many of these areas that we should probably thankful for the rain regardless of when it arrives. 

Here is the forecast rainfall for the next seven days.  8-14 Day Rainfall Outlook Note: these two week precipitation forecasts do not have a great deal of skill.  Below is the most recent drought map. Seven day forecast: The rains will be substantial enough to dent the drought in the Mid South from eastern Oklahoma to northern Alabama. There will also be some relief, generally minor, in the Intermountain region.  8-14 day forecast: If  the longer range forecast is correct, the above average rainfall area corresponds well to the worst of the drought from Florida through the Intermountain region. Cross your fingers. 

This is the forecast precipitation from this evening until 7pm Monday, April 13. It is likely there will be periods of severe thunderstorms (with tornadoes possible) later this week and into Monday, so it will be a good time to keep an eye on the weather.  So, a reminder below: Please check my twitter feed @usweatherexpert  on Twitter/X for updates as well as on this blog. 

I've put together a map where severe thunderstorms are possible from this afternoon through Saturday evening.  It is important to have your tornado shelter ready to go as I believe there will be several opportunities for tornadoes to form between now and the end of the week.  Please take this time to evaluate your tornado sheltering options.  There continues to be the potential for heavy -- and in isolated locations, excessive -- rainfall. 

Forecast rainfall to 7pm CDT next Sunday. The orange is 5 to 7" over the Ozarks region of Missouri into the central part of the state.  Much needed rains will fall in other regions. I will update as the week progresses. 

Here is the forecast rainfall for the next five days. 

Heavy rains are likely along the Florida Atlantic Coast. Otherwise, no areas of widespread flooding rains are forecast to occur. 

In an abundance of caution, I wish to give a "heads up" to the Carolinas and southern Virginia due the possibility of the effects of Tropical Storm or Hurricane Imelda next week. This is a National Weather Service product showing the amount of rain forecast to fall over the next seven days.  In addition, if the forecast of a strong tropical storm or hurricane occurs in this area, there will be power outages.  The NWS seems agree with the potential in this situation. The hatched area below is where they are forecasting flooding potential next week.  This is a difficult forecast situation so this forecast may be off. However, since we are going into the weekend, it is important for everyone to know the potential for next week. 

Rainfall amounts between now and 8am EDT Monday.  A few areas of flooding are forecast this week in the hatched area.  Unusual thunderstorms are forecast for central California from now until Wednesday night. Isolated flash floods are possible with the heavier thunderstorms.  While the Atlantic may see several tropical systems, none are forecast to directly affect the mainland United States. Have a great week!

More than five inches of rain is forecast to fall over the Ozarks during the next seven days. The band of heavier rain is forecast to extend east into Tennessee and Kentucky. Little to no flooding is expected because the region ranges from dry to moderate drought conditions. 

After several weeks of scattered heavy rains, the additional 4-6 inches forecast to fall in south Florida -- especially near Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale -- will raise the potential for more significant flooding between now and the end of the week. The map shows the forecast rain amounts. 

New today. The map below is U.S. drought conditions as of Tuesday.  And, below is the rainfall amount forecast for the next seven days. Generally, drought conditions are forecast to improve east of the Mississippi River with little change to the west. There will be significant rain in the southern High Plains but little in the area where drought conditions are the worst. 

The orange is where 5 to 7 inches of rain is forecast to fall this week with some flooding possible. No excessive rain is forecast anywhere else in the mainland United States. 

Here are the forecast rainfall amounts from 7 this evening until 7pm CDT Sunday. Have a great Father's Day weekend!

I thought it might be helpful to bring the June 1 to 6 rainfall across the winter wheat belt to your attention. In this area, most of the wheat is grown near and west of I-35. Currently, most analysts says that worldwide wheat supplies are "tight." This means that a good crop is especially needed this year.  I am concerned about flooding in areas where the wheat is ripe or ripening (generally south of the KS-OK border) causing the wheat to lessen in quality.  Regardless, drought conditions improved significantly during May. The latest drought conditions, as of Tuesday, are below.  Looking ahead, here is the forecast rainfall for the next seven days. 

For the 2025 Memorial Day Weekend, it is -- unfortunately -- easy to find the forecasted worst Lake Weather.  Yes, that is more than 7" of rain at Table Rock (MO) and Bull Shoals (AR) in the Ozarks. Nearly 7" (tiny spot, look closely) is forecast for the Lake of the Ozarks (MO) as well 5" at Grand Lake (OK).  As a result of the heavy rains earlier this week, considerable debris is already being observed in the water at the Lake of the Ozarks and this will be a problem at all of these lakes by the end of the weekend.  In addition, flooding is likely  in the 4-state area with the orange and amber colors. 

Here is the forecast rainfall from now until 7pm Sunday: The orange is more than five inches  near I-44 in southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma from now The total in the same area is more than seven  inches from now until 7pm next Thursday.  Serious flooding is likely to result from southeast Missouri into eastern Oklahoma. Please prepare accordingly. 

The NWS forecast for the Northwest shows a wet week ahead. The rain/snow is needed in many areas.