Weather

Travelers over the next few days may face weather-related slowdowns mainly across the eastern half of the U.S., while record warmth continues to dominate the West. Here’s a practical, map-focused overview of what to watch by region, plus reminders about jet stream headwinds and seasonal pollen.

An episode of extreme heat is developing across the West, with temperatures expected to run well above average and daily records falling in some locations. The hottest conditions are forecast to peak for many areas on Tuesday, while the Pacific Northwest may see some relief and other regions experience only modest improvement.

Even when forecasts point to a below-average Atlantic hurricane season during a strong El Niño, storms can still develop before the official June 1 start. Recent examples show how late-spring weather patterns can briefly allow tropical systems to form close to the U.S. coastline, sometimes bringing flooding impacts despite relatively modest winds.

A late-season winter storm delivered heavy, wet snow across parts of Colorado in early May, creating a midwinter-like scene, disrupting travel and raising concerns about tree damage, power outages and flooding after the snow melts.

A quick look at the high temperature rarely tells the whole story. Meteorologists recommend checking timing, humidity, heat index, wind, air quality, rain chances and radar to plan outdoor activities with fewer surprises.

Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir and a key water source for the U.S. West, is again approaching record-low levels. Long-term declines since 2000, exceptionally dry conditions, and reduced snowpack are converging into what officials describe as a dire water supply situation with broad implications for water, power and recreation.

A violent storm in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, sent metal sheets skidding and tumbling across a highway as heavy rain and powerful winds turned an ordinary drive into a sudden hazard zone. The incident underscores how quickly high winds can create life-threatening risks during severe weather.

Chile’s Atacama Desert is prized for its dry climate, high altitude and isolation from urban light—conditions that deliver more than 300 clear nights a year and support some of the world’s most advanced observatories. Scientists say those advantages are increasingly vulnerable as development expands and regulations are reassessed.

La Réunion Island recorded 71.8 inches of rain in a single day in 1966—an amount that exceeds what Miami typically receives in an entire year. Its volcanic terrain and frequent cyclones help explain why the island is often described as one of the wettest places on Earth.

Drought conditions have expanded across nearly the entire Southeast after a warmer, drier La Niña winter and an unusually dry spring in many major cities. Forecast rain may offer limited short-term relief, while outlooks suggest drought could worsen into summer—bringing higher fire risk, stressed soil moisture and continued pressure on water supplies.