National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Across the Center of the Nation; Severe Thunderstorms Across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley

Heat expands across the Desert Southwest, Plains, Mississippi Valley and Midwest into Monday. Fire weather concerns continue for portions of the Intermountain West. Active monsoonal moisture fuels thunderstorms over the Southwest with possible flash flooding. Tropical cyclone Fausto in the Pacific, should weaken as it approaches Hawaii; Dangerous surf, swells and rip currents are expected. Read More >

Fig. 15. The combined infrared satellite imagery and regional radar reflectivity mosaic from 2300 UTC 16 July to 0200 UTC 17 July 2003 shows Claudette as it became increasingly disorganized over far southwest Texas. Satellite imagery suggests that the middle and upper level cloud structure became less symmetrical with time as the system weakened and dry air began to entrain into the circulation from the south. Plots of the regional surface observations reveal that Claudette’s low level circulation was becoming displaced from the circulation aloft as it began rapidly moving west-northwest into northern Mexico. In addition, thunderstorms can be seen initiating over the Serranias del Burro Mountains in northern Coahuila, Mexico. This convection trained north over Terrell County, and resulted in heavy rainfall and flash flooding.