NWS Forecasts Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding over the Rocky Mountains, Heat over the South and Southeast

Heavy rain and flash flooding are possible to fall over the Rock Mountains in the coming days. In addition, persistent heat is possible in the southern and southeastern United States.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Fiona will continue to bring dangerous rip currents along the US East Coast. This is according to the National Weather Service (NWS), which is also monitoring the movement of a next system in the Caribbean Sea.

In the Rockies region, torrential rain is possible in the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, as well as in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in southwestern Canada. The Southern US region is expected to experience hot weather and rising temperatures, including in the states of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Previous weather reports indicate excessive rainfall could lead to runoff and riverine flooding, affecting communities near bodies of water like rivers and lakes. Low-lying areas are also susceptible to floodwaters. Furthermore, the looming extreme heat could result in heat-related illnesses like heat stress, heat stroke, or hyperthermia, and even death. There is also potential power outages and travel disruption.

The current weather development in the US comes as the country entered its Autumnal Equinox or September Equinox on Thursday, September 22, which marks the beginning of the fall season or autumn season. Known for its relatively calm weather, the season gradually shifts into cooler temperatures by mid-December to pave the way for the winter season.

NWS Forecast

The NWS, through its Weather Prediction Center (WPC), on Thursday issued its latest US weather forecast, suggesting that a cold front will bring a thick airmass to most parts of the Eastern Seaboard from Friday, September 23, and into the weekend.

The NWS forecast also says monsoonal moisture is lingering across the Desert Southwest with the potential of causing additional flooding.

The short-range outlook is valid from Friday until Sunday, September 25.

Rockies Rainfall

Recent forecast show that flash flooding is likely in the Desert Southwest and Rockies on Wednesday, September 21, placing over 7 million people under flash flood watches due to the plume of moisture moving from the Pacific Ocean, CNN reports.

The same moisture is being tackled by the WPC as it has been forecasted to move northward over the Southwest and into parts of the Great Basin or Central Rockies.

Hot Weather

While other parts of the nation are cooling down, the Florida Peninsula is an exception, according to the NWS; since a front is expected to stall, with heat and humidity, moving into the weekend.

Under the hot weather, temperatures could reach into the 90s for most of Texas and Oklahoma. Still, there was no mention if the weather system will produce a heat wave or not.

Hurricane Fiona

The US weather agency is tracking the powerful Hurricane Fiona as mentioned earlier. A high wind watch remains in effect for eastern state of Maine. As the storm moves toward Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, rip currents will be the main threat to affect the East Coast until the end of the week.

Fiona has been attributed to the deaths of a total of five people in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe, according to CBS News. Thousands of people were also left without power as hurricane winds downed power lines.