It isn't your imagination, the weather has been extreme across the US -- and relief is in sight
Some residents living along the Arkansas River in Dardanelle, Arkansas, have been recommended to evacuate as the river continues to rise due to heavy, flooding rains in the region. This video was shot on May 28, and shows just how high the river has got. Officials have warned that more rainfall could weaken the levees holding the river back.
May has been a month of weather extremes across the United States, including hundreds of tornado reports across several states, record-shattering heat in the South, flooding in the Plains and non-stop rain in the Northeast. The frequency of extreme weather is expected to lessen across the U.S. in early June.
"A persistent and unusual weather pattern has had a hold on much of the U.S. the past two weeks," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker.
"This has led to unseasonably cool weather in the Southwest and record warmth in the Southeast," he added. "The battle zone between the two areas had triggered rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms from the Plains to the Ohio Valley."
A shift in the jet stream will lead to a change in the overall weather pattern across the nation to start June.
Severe weather, including tornadoes, will lessen on the Plains as the Northeast welcomes drier and more comfortable stretches of weather. As the heat eases in the Southeast, temperatures will soar in the Southwest.
Onslaught of severe weather on Plains to ease, but flooding to remain
Wednesday marked the last day of widespread severe weather across the Plains this month.
The corridor from Kansas to Oklahoma is welcoming much-needed dry weather to end this week.
Large rivers, however, will continue to rise as floodwaters drain downstream.
Showers and thunderstorms will expand across more of the Plains this weekend with additional rounds to follow next week.
While downpours and the risk for flooding to be aggravated will remain concerns, a repeat of the recent onslaught of severe weather is not expected.
"There is a chance for a strong event with severe weather early next week across the Plains, but the pattern does not favor widespread tornadoes through most of the first full week of June," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
Outside of early next week, most of the severe weather that occurs across the Plains in early June may tend to be more localized in nature.
"We feel confident that severe weather becomes more widespread on the Plains once again from June 8-12," Pastelok said.
Pedestrians pass along storm debris on North Dixie Drive, Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio, the day after a tornado struck the city. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Northeast to welcome drier stretches
Farmers, construction crews and those seeking to spend time outdoors plagued by frequent wet weather in May across the Northeast may be treated to stretches of dry and comfortable weather during the first part of June.
There can still be episodes of showers and thunderstorms, including this weekend, but drier and pleasant days may be more common than unsettled days in many areas.
"The comfortable spells coming to the Northeast next week and into the following week can reduce cooling demands," according to Pastelok.
"Low temperatures can range from the 30s and 40s across the interior Northeast on the morning of June 3 and then again later in the week," he said.
While the entire week will not be dry, the days that feature low dew points will promote high evaporation rates in the fields that farmers are eager to get into.
Southeast heat to ease, but rain chances may be limited
The record heat that has been baking the Southeast will finally ease for the start of June as an area of high pressure shifts southward.
"Temperatures in the Southeast will ease back from extreme heat this weekend into next week but can still be above normal in most areas," according to Pastelok.
"Rain may finally reach northern areas of the Gulf states into the Carolinas," he added. "However, that may not be enough to prevent a drought from worsening in these areas through June and into July."
Pastelok is also concerned that Florida, parts of Georgia and South Carolina may continue to miss out on rainfall through the first half of June.
"This could set up a higher risk of brush fires through June," he said.
Typical June heat to build back across California, Southwest deserts
Following widespread records being broken for the lowest high temperatures on May 26 in California, the trend of temperatures rebounding across the state and the Southwest will continue into early June.
June will start with temperatures climbing to near the century mark in Phoenix, Arizona, the lower 90s in Las Vegas and within a degree or two of the 90-degree mark in most of California's Central Valley.
Residents will once again be cranking up air conditioners and taking the necessary steps to avoid heat-related illnesses.
"The coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles and San Diego will remain comfortably cooler this weekend and next week as beaches farther to the north stay chilly and breezy," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.
Download the free AccuWeather app for more details on the forecast in your community. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
