Today's Weather Outlook

Blistering, muggy heat bakes in the western Gulf states, severe storms threaten the Midwest, and isolated Rocky Mountain flurries are in view today.

As an intense springtime low pressure system builds in the northern Plains, severe storms will rally from Minnesota to the Ohio River. Upper-level energy and clashing air masses pose threats of dangerous wind gusts, large to very large hail, and tornadoes, with a specific focus of strength over the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes in the afternoon. An additional threat of isolated flooding is also possible in parts of the northern Plains underneath persistent rain behind the system. Be sure to heed all watches and warnings on Thursday, and remember, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Less intense and more scattered thunderstorms will take charge over Appalachia and East Coast states north of South Carolina, with a rare few thunderstorms possible in the interior Mid-South. Most storms here will arrive in the afternoon and evening hours.

To the West, a few weather disturbances will take form as low-elevation showers and high-elevation wintry mix to snow. Although most of the precipitation will fall amongst the eastern ranges of the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest will also see some light drizzle toward this evening.

Meteorological summer is about half a month away, but folks in the South and Midwest would be forgiven for thinking we are already in the midst of it. Heat indexes will rise into the 90s along much of the Mississippi River Basin and the Southeast, while dreaded indexes reaching through 100s and 110s in southern Texas will make for unforgiving conditions. Limit your time spent outside and find ways to cool down under this wave of steep, sticky heat if you live in these regions.

As for actual temperatures, thermometers reach the 80s, 90s, and the lower 100s through the aforementioned regions along with the Desert Southwest. Instead, more moderate 60s and 70s mark the northeastern U.S., Appalachian peaks, the Great Lakes, the central High Plains, most of the northern Plains, the lower Intermountain West, and the Californian Coast.

Keeping their grasp against summery heat, cooler 40s and 50s emerge for the far northern Plains, the northern Intermountain West, and the Pacific Northwest. Thirties and freezing temperatures only cap today's temperatures in the Rockies and the Cascades.