Heat Wave and Thunderstorms to Impact U.S. as May Weather Shifts
A significant weather shift is expected across the U.S., with thunderstorms forecast for the Central and Southern Plains on Saturday, May 10, moving into Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas by Mother's Day. A cold front will bring thunderstorms and damaging winds to the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic regions. Meanwhile, a heat wave is set to impact the western U.S., with temperatures reaching well above average and potentially breaking records. Southern California and Arizona valleys may see lows in the 100s°F (37°C). NOAA's long-term outlook predicts an El Niño event persisting through the year, which could exacerbate warmer-than-average conditions nationwide. April 2026 was the warmest April in 20 years, with several states breaking historical temperature records. 
