Overview
- Forecasters say hot, humid conditions will persist through the weekend with daily afternoon and evening hit‑or‑miss storms that are most likely to form during peak heating.
- National Weather Service products in effect include Heat Advisories for parts of New England, an Extreme Heat Warning for Southern California deserts, and a Red Flag Warning near Billings for elevated fire danger.
- Any thunderstorm that develops can drop brief, tropical‑style downpours that produce localized flash flooding and may generate isolated damaging wind gusts in some valleys.
- Dry, hot areas of the Interior and Southwest will remain breezy and fire‑prone with smoke reducing air quality in places downwind of active burns.
- Residents should take heat‑safety precautions because heat indices near 100–105°F increase risk for heat illness and a cold front expected by mid‑to‑late next week may finally bring relief.