Severe weather Plains over the weekend, Tropical Storm Hone heads for Hawaii

While we are seeing nice weather conditions across much of the eastern half of the US, things are different on the other side in the Plains. Hot weather continues with highs in the 90s and we have severe weather risks to contend with for the next three days. States like Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North & South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas will be in the line of fire.with thunderstorms, some of which will reach severe levels.

Photo bystorm prediction center

Photo bystorm prediction center

Severe weather risks will gradually shift to the east over the weekend and early next week we see risks moving into the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. The Atlantic tropicsl remain quiet as the Eastern and Central Pacific have become very active over the past week.

Photo byNational Weather Service

Major Hurricane Gilma is in between 2 other systems The one on the right will likely devleop over the weekend. The one on the left is Tropical Storm Hone which is slowly strengthening and tracking to the west northwest. Hone could become a hurricane Sunday as it passes close to the Hawaiian Islands.

Photo byNational Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center has placed the big island of Hawaii under a tropical storm watch. While the center is forecast to pass south of the big island it may be close enough to bring heavy rains rough surf and gusty winds to the Hawaiian islands over the weekend. As long as the Pacific remains active, the Atlantic is likely to stay rather quiet for the next week or so. We could begin to see the Atlantic basin rev up with tropical activity as we head into September.