Weekend weather forecast: Temperatures flip, stormy West

The weekend is here and with it comes an unsettled West, the typical spring-like storms staged over the Plains, and finally warmth to the East!

Several low-pressure systems will be smashing over the Pacific Northwest increasing the rain showers, some storms, and even some snow across the higher elevations. This series of storms will continue also to affect parts of the Northern Plains through the Midwest and the Great Lakes through the weekend.

The strong high pressure system which has been preventing severe weather from moving eastward and exiting the Plains continues to weaken over the weekend. On Saturday there will be some severe storms across parts of Texas and Oklahoma. There could also be some severe storms affecting parts of the Midwest specifically areas between Missouri, Western Illinois, and southeastern Iowa. The main threat with these thunderstorms will be damaging winds with gusts of at least 60 mph, large hail, and we cannot rule out a tornado or two. Parts of the Gulf Coast could also see some very isolated severe storms developing in the afternoon, specifically parts of southeastern Louisiana where they had a very wet start to the day this Cinco de Mayo.

On Sunday the main threat for severe thunderstorms will be mainly focused again over parts of Western Illinois, Iowa, and northern Missouri. Again, the main threat will likely be large hail, damaging winds, and a brief tornado. There could be more thunderstorms extending all the way southward toward Southeast Texas including parts of North Texas and Central Texas.

The big story is the temperatures! Finally, warmer temperatures are moving two parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the northeast where the cold has been present most of this week. Temperatures will be up to par with the average for this time of the year. Across the Plains will be increasing and reach above average on Sunday. Highs should reach the 90s from Texas through the Midwest.