By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist
August 18, 2018, 11:47:23 PM EDT
A sweep of cooler air in the central United States will be preceded by disruptive downpours and locally strong thunderstorms into the start of the new week.
The stormy conditions will not only put a damper on outdoor activities and slow travel, but also bring flooding dangers to some communities.
A system will first douse the High Plains with rain and thunderstorms this weekend before moving into the Midwest and mid-Mississippi Valley on Monday, according to AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido.
Flash flooding will likely become the greatest threat on Saturday night. This concern may be greatest across Kansas, as well as Oklahoma, where cleanup efforts continue in the wake of flooding last week.
On Sunday and Sunday night, areas farther east will be in line for a thorough soaking and could face localized flooding problems. This includes in Pierre, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Residents living near small streams or in flood-prone areas should be on the lookout for rising water levels.
People traveling along interstates 35, 70, 80 and 90 should prepare for slowdowns amid the downpours and be wary of standing water on the roadways.
If high water overtakes a roadway, motorists are reminded to never attempt to drive through the floodwaters.
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After rain sweeps through during the first part of Sunday, enough sunshine may break out across Oklahoma and the Arklatex region for stronger storms to ignite during the afternoon and evening hours.
Stay up to date with the latest severe weather and flood alerts by downloading the free AccuWeather app.
The flood risk will not end with the close of the weekend.
Rain and locally gusty storms will settle over the Mississippi Valley on Monday, with the greatest risk of flooding expected to target the middle and upper portions of the region.
The core of heaviest rain may stay south of Minneapolis, but could cause travel headaches in Chicagoland as commuters head home on Monday.
Any non-flooding rainfall into early week will help to ease the pockets of droughtover the central Plains.
As the downpours shift into the Great Lakes and Northeast prior to the middle of the week, Vido expects cooler, less humid conditions to take control of the nation's midsection.
On Sunday, Denver may not crack the 70-degree-Fahrenheit mark for the first time since late May.
The city's low temperature record of 47 on Sunday night could also be in jeopardy.
Highs in Oklahoma City will be held to the lower 80s through the first half of the week, well below the average high in the lower 90s.
Highs in the 70s will complement the drier air following the downpours across the upper Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes on Tuesday.
“It will feel refreshing for outdoor plans and projects, and encourage lower regional cooling demand,” Vido said.
While most of the region can expect dry weather to accompany the more comfortable conditions, systems ejecting out of the Rockies may put the central and southern Plains at risk for thunderstorms around midweek.
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