Flood Watches, Severe Storms Threaten Plains, West Texas

Clouds will increase across much of the U.S. this weekend but most areas should stay dry Saturday with highs generally in the 50s–60s. A slow-moving low and several storm systems will bring scattered to widespread showers from the Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes late Friday into Saturday and in some spots through Sunday morning, with another round of unsettled weather expected early next week. Heavier rain and Flood Watches are in effect for parts of southern Kansas and Oklahoma and areas south of I‑70, where an additional 0.5–1 inch or more is possible, while northern and western zones may see little moisture. Severe thunderstorms are possible in West Texas on Friday, with threats including damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, quarter-size hail or larger, and a few tornadoes. Nights will turn cooler with early freezes reported — Rapid City is tracking its first freeze and parts of Indiana have already dropped below freezing — and forecasters are watching next week for potential coastal heavy rain in Maine and late-week mountain snow or showers in the Appalachians.