Today’s Weather Outlook
July 19, 2026 at 12:40 AM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologists
A soggy, stormy wrap up to the weekend will be seen for much of the U.S.
Two cold fronts will impact the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. today, while monsoonal moisture flows into the Mountain West. The first cold front will inch south and east across the Eastern U.S. The second cold front will slice through the middle of the Eastern U.S.
Rain showers and a few thunderstorms will be found from the Northeast into the Appalachian Spine very early in the morning. The northern Plains, eastern Gulf Coast, the southern High Plains and the Desert Southwest could also see showers and thunderstorms early in the morning. By the afternoon and evening, showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread, including throughout the Mountain West, most of the Plains and Mississippi Valley and the Southeast.
From the Carolinas into the Tennessee Valley, there will be the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms. The main threat would be damaging wind gusts. However, large hail and an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, the Mountain West will be susceptible to torrential downpours. These downpours could lead to flooding, especially near rivers, creeks and streams as well as urban and low-lying areas.
A few spots will be free of weather headaches for the end of the weekend. This includes the Northwest, California, the Northeast and along with the western Gulf Coast and Great Lakes.
Near to above normal temperatures are in store for much of the West Coast into the north central U.S. and Mississippi Valley. Cooler than normal weather is expected for the Desert Southwest, southern High Plains and most of the Eastern Seaboard as a result of cloud cover and rain and thunderstorm chances.
Expect 70s and lower 80s across the Great Lakes, Appalachian Spine and Northeast, but the tallest Northeast terrain could only see highs in the 60s. The higher elevations of the Mountain West and the immediate West Coast will also report highs mainly in the 70s and 80s, but 50s and 60s are possible in the tallest peaks of Colorado. Much of the U.S. will have temperatures peak in the 80s and 90s across the interior Northwest, Great Basin, Plains, Deep Southeast and Southeast. Triple digit heat will persist across California’s Central Valley into the Desert Southwest.
