A front is forecast to extend into the Southern Plains and trigger scattered showers and some strong thunderstorms. As much as a half-inch of rain is expected in the Northeast, while twice that amount could fall in the Ohio Valley. Scattered showers in the Southeast and Lower Mississippi Valley are likely to cause flooding.
Meanwhile, another low pressure system was expected to develop over the Great Lakes, threatening moderate to heavy rain in Michigan and into the Lower Great Lakes. This system could also kick up some scattered thunderstorms.
Behind this system, high pressure over the Plains is expected to allow for warm and dry conditions over the Northern and Central Plains. Expect mostly sunny skies with highs in the 50s and 60s.
In the West, a ridge of high pressure is forecast to allow for mostly sunny skies with warm and pleasant weather. Forecasters predict the Pacific Northwest will reach into the 70s, while most of California will see highs in the 80s and areas of the Southwest will break 100. Hot and dry conditions are expected to allow fires to remain a threat.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a low of 12 degrees at Yellowstone Lake, Wyo. to a high of 109 degrees at Laredo, Texas.
