Severe thunderstorms carrying the risk of large hail and damaging wind gusts are expected to sweep across the mid Mississippi Valley and into the Ohio Valley today, while extreme heat continues to grip the South, Southeast and Southwest.
Forecasters say scattered storms will develop this afternoon and track eastward across southern Missouri before intensifying into organized clusters capable of producing significant wind and hail through the overnight hours.
Mid-Mississippi Valley faces the sharpest storm risk
The greatest concern for today centers on the mid Mississippi Valley, where storms are expected to strengthen as they move east. Forecasters warn these clusters could bring large hail and wind gusts strong enough to cause damage, with the threat continuing into the overnight period as storms track further into the Ohio Valley.
Isolated storms capable of producing gusty winds and hail are also possible further west, stretching from the lower to mid Missouri Valley into the Great Plains. A few strong storms could also develop in southern Arizona and across parts of the Southeast, though activity in those areas is expected to remain more scattered.
Far northern Arkansas sees isolated storm chances
Within the broader Mid-South setup, far northern Arkansas could see a few isolated showers and thunderstorms today, with forecasters noting a small chance that some could reach strong to severe levels. The state is not expected to see widespread severe weather, and any activity there is likely to stay limited compared to the more organized clusters expected further north and east.
Heavy rain adds flooding concern in parts of Arizona
Beyond the wind and hail threat, forecasters are also tracking heavy rainfall potential across portions of Arizona, where saturated ground or repeated storm activity could raise the risk of localized flooding. The National Weather Service has flash flood warnings active in some areas as of today, reflecting ongoing concern about runoff in the region.
Extreme heat continues to build across the South
While storms dominate the forecast in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, extreme heat remains the primary story across much of the South, Southeast and Southwest. Overnight low temperatures are expected to stay unusually warm, and when combined with high humidity, they are expected to offer little relief from scorching daytime highs…