Swaths of US bracing for 'monsoonal' flooding from thunderstorms: What to know
- - Swaths of US bracing for 'monsoonal' flooding from thunderstorms: What to know
John Bacon, USA TODAY August 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A swath of the Midwest and West was bracing for storms and possible flooding as a "monsoonal flow" was forecast to sweep across Nevada all the way to Texas and Oklahoma, the National Weather Service said.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Youman warned that thunderstorms could initially develop as far west as eastern California, Nevada and Utah on Aug. 24. The more serious flooding concerns involve the heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast from eastern Colorado through the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles into Kansas and Oklahoma, Youman said.
Those storms could then advance into eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Adding to possible issues, the weather service in Oklahoma warned that "due to a telecommunications issue, the NOAA Weather Radios in OKC, Ponca City, and Enid are currently out of service. We haven't been given an estimated time of return yet."
The good news for the region: The storm will be "falling apart" late Aug. 25, Youman said.
Developments:
∎ High temperatures in the 60s and 70s −15-30 degrees below average − were forecast from the Great Plains to the Midwest. Some isolated records for low temperatures may be broken Aug. 25-26, the weather service says.
∎ Stormy monsoon conditions in the Southwest will likely alleviate the heat wave in the Southwest beginning Aug. 25, the weather service said.
Second flood threat looms midweek
A second and potentially more dangerous flood threat could start Aug. 27. Multiple rounds of rain are expected, and some of the same locations will be targeted before the threat moves farther east later in the week, according to AccuWeather.
"This heavy rain threat combined with local soil moisture levels well below the historical average can result in less efficient absorption and more runoff, which can increase the flash flooding risk," Youman said.
However, AccuWeather also said it's possible that Labor Day events can go on as planned as the forecast dries out across much of the region.
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'Life threatening' waves forecast for some Lake Michigan beaches
Dangerous waves and currents driven by strong northwest winds were forecast for many Lake Michigan beaches on Aug. 24 and 25. Some waves of up to 5 feet are expected at beaches in northwest Indiana. Swimming conditions, especially for inexperienced swimmers, will be life threatening, the weather service said.
"Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out onto piers, jetties, breakwalls," the weather service said.
Fernand no threat to United States
Tropical Storm Fernand became "a bit better organized" on Aug. 24 as it raced north-northeast at 15 mph across the western Atlantic Ocean. Forecasts called for the storm, which was driving sustained winds of 40 mph, to strengthen a bit but remain well offshore. At 11 a.m. Aug. 24 the center of the storm was about 295 miles east-southeast of Bermuda. On the forecast track, Fernand should move across the open waters of the subtropical North Atlantic well east and northeast of Bermuda.
"No significant wave action or rip currents related to Tropical Storm Fernand are forecast to reach the U.S.," AccuWeather said of the storm.
Pacific Northwest under siege from the heat
Extreme heat warnings and watches remain in effect across parts of the Desert Southwest, California, Washington and Oregon.
"For many areas there will be little nighttime relief from the extreme heat, with overnight lows remaining well above normal," the weather service warned. "Numerous" overnight temperature records are likely.
Several high temperature records were broken across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington in recent days, and heat warnings and advisories are expected to remain in place through Aug. 26.
"Stay cool, hydrate, & check on others!" the weather service in Portland, Oregon, said in a social media post.
Dark storm clouds cover Daytona International Speedway, Friday, August 22, 2025.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swath of US facing 'monsoonal' storms, flooding; Fernand no US threat
Source: “AOL General News”
