Pattern Change Has Ended Tornado Siege, Lessened Heat in Southeast and Will Bring Milder Temperatures to the West

This recent pattern has consisted of a southward dip in the jet stream over the West and a ridge of high pressure over the Southeast. This has resulted in severe storms tracking repeatedly over parts of the Plains, Midwest, and at times, the Northeast.

The upper-level pattern has shifted and a ridge is sliding over the southern Plains. This change is bringing a break to the long stretch of severe weather that has plagued parts of the country and will also bring temperature changes.

Below, we take a closer look at what to expect with this pattern shift in early June.

Intermittent Severe Threat

Although a break from the rounds of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain is generally expected as June begins, a cold front will drop southward through the Midwest, Northeast and Plains this weekend, sparking the chance for some scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible on Saturday from the southern Plains to the Midwest. Damaging wind gusts and hail are the main concerns, with the threat of tornadoes relatively low.

A few severe thunderstorms also cannot be ruled out on Sunday in portions of the High Plains and Northeast. However, the overall risk of tornadoes will be much lower this weekend compared to the past two weeks.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Additional rainfall could lead to more flooding, especially if higher rainfall rates are observed on areas with already-saturated ground. More rain will also not help the ongoing river flooding.

End to the Record Heat

A cold front pushed through parts of the region Friday, ushering in slightly cooler temperatures for the weekend for most spots. This cold front will not make it to the Gulf Coast and into Florida, resulting in hotter conditions there.

High temperatures may still be slightly above average for the first several days of June, but widespread record highs are not anticipated.

Low temperatures will also be a bit cooler and will return to closer to average this weekend into early week.

Although highs are just dropping a few degrees in most areas the change will bring some slight relief from the heat. Dew points will also be a bit lower in much of the South which will make it feel more comfortable.

Milder Pattern in the West

In much of the West, it has felt more like April or March than late May. Both Las Vegas and Phoenix saw average temperatures for May about 6 degrees cooler than average. Tucson, Arizona, has yet to reach 100 degrees this year, which typically occurs in mid-May.

Not only has it been cool, but much of the region has also seen wetter-than-average conditions and even snow in some of the higher elevations. Through May 30, it had been one of the wettest May on record in Sacramento and Fresno, California, and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Changes are ahead this weekend. Instead of temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average, high and low temperatures will rise to near average for most locations, with above-average temperatures in the Northwest and northern Rockies. Highs will be mainly in the 70s and 80s for much of the region, with 90s in the Desert Southwest and 60s near the California coast.

Precipitation will also become less widespread heading into early June. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible, but little mountain snow is currently anticipated this weekend into early next week.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center indicates that above-average temperatures are likely for much of California and the Southwest through the first two weeks of June. In addition, the Northwest, Rockies and the Four Corners region may experience wetter-than-average conditions.