ALT National Weather Service Severe Weather Outlook map for Friday, June 26, 2026, highlighting areas across the United States with potential thunderstorms and severe weather risk. Two Slight Risk (yellow) areas are shown: one centered over parts of western Montana into northern Wyoming, and another stretching from eastern Kansas and Missouri into southern Illinois and western Kentucky. Broader Marginal Risk (dark green) areas surround these regions, extending across much of the central Plains, Rockies, Mid-Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley. General thunderstorm potential (light green) covers large portions of the western U.S., central U.S., Gulf Coast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, including northern New England. No enhanced, moderate, or high risk areas are indicated. The map suggests scattered thunderstorms capable of isolated severe weather, with the greatest concern focused in parts of the northern Rockies and lower Midwest.

ALT Weather has its own rulebook. Know the calls. WATCH means dangerous weather is possible. WARNING means dangerous weather is happening now or about to happen!

ALT Fire Weather Outlook for Friday June 26th from the Storm Prediction Center. Extremely Critical fire weather conditions are forecast for Utah and portions of southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona.

ALT Red Flag Warning infographic. A Red Flag Warning is issued when critical fire weather conditions are happening or about to happen. It does not necessarily mean there is a fire, but that conditions will be very dry and windy. If a fire is present, it can become extreme! Avoid activities that could spark a wildfire. Take action: make your wildfire plan with at least 2 evacuation routes, maintain your go kit, follow fire prevention tips and regulations, and listen to local officials for updates and evacuation orders.

ALT Wildfires can escalate quickly. Wildfire growth can be terrifyingly sudden and deadly. Prepare ahead of time so you'll be ready. Clear brush away from your home to create defensible space. Use fire-resistant landscaping. Know your potential evacuation routes. Have an emergency supply kit ready to go.

ALT NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather outlook for Thursday, June 25, 2026, showing thunderstorm risk areas across portions of the United States. A slight risk (level 2 of 5) stretches across parts of the central and southern Plains, including eastern Colorado, western and central Kansas, western Oklahoma, and eastern New Mexico, where severe thunderstorms may produce damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Surrounding marginal risk (level 1) areas extend more broadly across the Rockies, central Plains, Midwest, lower Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, and parts of the Gulf Coast. Additional marginal thunderstorm risk areas are highlighted over parts of the Northeast, Ohio Valley, Florida, and the Intermountain West, including Idaho and western Montana. The greatest organized severe storm potential is expected over the central Plains during the afternoon and evening hours.

ALT A NOAA 6–10 day precipitation outlook map for June 30 to July 4, 2026, shows above-normal precipitation is favored in parts of the Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest, Northeast, and Southwest, while below-normal precipitation is predicted for parts of the Great Basin and the Southeast.

ALT A NOAA 6–10 day temperature outlook map for June 30 to July 4, 2026, shows above-normal temperatures are strongly favored for the eastern two-thirds of the country and Hawaii, while below-normal temperatures are predicted for the West Coast and Alaska.

ALT The June 23 U.S. Drought Monitor shows 100% of North Carolina in drought including 45.2% in Extreme or Exceptional Drought (D3/D4).

ALT The 6–10 Day Precipitation Outlook map for North Carolina, valid from June 30 to July 4, 2026 indicates a high probability of below-normal precipitation

ALT A U.S. weather hazard map outlines a large risk zone for extreme heat from July 2 to July 8. The impacted high risk area areas spans a broad corridor from the Midwest and Great Lakes regions down through the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

ALT The June 23 U.S. Drought Monitor shows 43.7% of the United States + Puerto Rico in drought. Extreme or Exceptional Drought (D3/D4) is present in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, as well as in each state on the Atlantic Coast from Florida to New Jersey except Georgia.

ALT A large purple and orange sunflower sea star living in the Edmonds Marine Park in Puget Sound, Washington state, in 2021. (Image credit: Zachary Gold/NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory )

ALT I decided to hike Mt. Talac, 10 miles, often running. I chose to hike alone, without water, and I did not check the weather. When I returned, I was clammy, shaking, ash gray, had a splitting headache and felt nauseous. It took over a day to recover. Don't be lazy. Always have plenty of water. Quote from Sabrina, Lake Tahoe, California, 1991

ALT Hot and humid conditions are expected to expand across the southern U.S. beginning this weekend. High temperatures are forecast to be well into the 90s, with triple digit readings possible across portions of TX. Widespread Major to Extreme HeatRisk is forecast this weekend.