Heat is rising on the parched plains

AccuWeather meteorologists say persistent dry weather will continue across the central states over the coming week. As a dry, warm air mass takes hold over the Front Range and Midwest, it will bring mostly sunny skies and daytime afternoon temperatures in the 80s to 90s Fahrenheit.

“An area of ​​strengthening high pressure over the central states will produce temperatures 10 to 20 degrees warmer than historical averages,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus said.

Temperatures could even top 100 degrees in a small corner of western South Dakota. Early afternoon highs in Rapid City, South Dakota, will approach records set in the 1990s and early 2010s.

In cities like Denver, where temperatures typically hover around the 80s Fahrenheit in early to mid-September, temperatures will rise to just above 90 degrees Fahrenheit by early next week.

Towns across northeastern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin could feel the return of warmth after overnight temperatures in the 40s late last week and dropping into the 30s early Saturday morning.

Frost warnings and freeze advisories were in effect until 8 a.m. Central time Saturday, warning residents that sensitive outdoor vegetation could be damaged if left exposed.

In the rest of the country, residents may be surprised to hear reports of temperatures dropping into the 30s in early September. However, it is not uncommon for the first frost to occur in northeastern Minnesota in late August or early September.

The lack of rain in the region could mean trouble with the ongoing drought. Extensive areas of moderate to severe drought are currently being observed across the western portions of the Dakotas and into Nebraska, according to the latest update to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Locations along the Wyoming-South Dakota border are even experiencing extreme drought conditions.

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Drought conditions are also forecast to extend into the Ohio Valley this week as a high-pressure zone continues to expand eastward. There is currently a significant area of ​​extreme and exceptional drought levels across southern Ohio and into West Virginia. Cities such as Columbus, Ohio, have recorded less than 40% of their historical average precipitation since June 1.

The outlook for precipitation this week across the central states and Ohio Valley is bleak, and concerns about downstream river levels are growing, especially since the Ohio River Basin is a major contributor to the Mississippi River system.

“Drought conditions in parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley in the coming weeks could put a strain on businesses and farmers who rely on the Mississippi River to transport goods,” Duffus explained.

As river levels drop, barges carrying goods along the Mississippi River could face additional restrictions on how much cargo they can carry. Low water levels could also raise concerns about saltwater intrusion into cities closer to the Gulf of Mexico.

There could be some light at the end of the tunnel for precipitation late next week, forecasters say. The storm, which is expected to hit inland on the Northwest Coast around midweek, could reach southern Canada and the northern plains by the end of the week, bringing much-needed rain to the region.

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