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Heat and Fire Weather Concerns in the West; Excessive Rainfall Possible in the South-Central U.S.

Heat will build over the Intermountain West and the Southwest the next couple of days. Lightning from dry thunderstorms can create new fire starts and combined with gusty winds may cause a fire to rapidly grow in Oregon and northern California. Flash flooding will be possible in New Mexico and west Texas today, as well as parts of the southern and central Plains due to slow moving thunderstorms. Read More >

Overview

During the late afternoon of August 19th, a supercell developed across northeast Wyoming and tracked directly over Devils Tower, where it caused extensive damage to trees, buildings, campers, and vehicles. The National Park Service closed Devils Tower due to the severe storm damage.  The supercell then tracked eastward through the Northern Black Hills and onto the plains of western South Dakota, and continued to produce large hail, strong winds, and heavy rain, before dissipating later in the evening.

Supercell over Devils Tower
Devils Tower
Courtesy of Thomas Winesett
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