USA National Forecast

'Ring of Fire' Weather Pattern Scorching the Southern Plains as Thunderstorms Rumble Across the Nation's Northern Tier

World's First Chief Heat Officer's Tips

A ring of fire weather pattern in the central states is instigating bouts of thunderstorms and hot temperatures this week in the Plains, Midwest and Rockies.

Though "ring of fire" isn't a formal weather term, it's sometimes used by meteorologists to describe a particular summertime weather pattern that sets up occasionally.

Here's how it works: sinking air associated with a strong upper-level high-pressure system east of the Rockies leads to very hot temperatures near its core. Forming a partial ring around the high's clockwise flow are disturbances aloft that tap into moisture, resulting in periods of thunderstorms near its periphery.

An area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere will bring hot conditions to the south-central and southwestern states. Disturbances aloft will move in the clockwise flow around the northern periphery of the high to spark thunderstorms in the Plains and Midwest at times.

Here's a closer look at how this setup is affecting weather conditions this week.

Ring of Fire Storms

Multiple impulses of energy in the upper atmosphere will pivot around the northern periphery of the south-central U.S. high-pressure system through late-week. Those pockets of energy will provide upward motion in the atmosphere, leading to the development of showers and thunderstorms in portions of the Plains and Midwest.

The thunderstorms may turn severe in some areas with damaging winds and large hail being the primary threats, though isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Localized pockets of flash flooding could also develop if any thunderstorm clusters stall out.

Summertime Heat From Rockies to Plains

A broad area of the country will see above-average temperatures as a result of the upper-level high-pressure system, including from the Rockies to the Plains and parts of the Midwest.

Lubbock, Texas, surpassed its annual average number of 100-degree days this week. The West Texas city had already seen 12 days in 2018 at or above 100 degrees through Thursday, topping the yearly average of nine in the city.

Midland, Texas, will also approach its annual average number of 100-degree days late this week. Through Thursday, Midland has seen 17 days in the triple-digits this year, just one day shy of the annual average of 18 days.

Temperatures from the Rockies to the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley won't be quite as hot as West Texas and the Desert Southwest, but they will run several degrees above average.

Salt Lake City, Denver and Kansas City are likely to experience multiple days in the 90s through at least Saturday.

(MORE: Forecast Temperature Maps)