Record Heat Builds Out West While Temperatures Tumble Further East

Record heat has been occurring up and down the West Coast the past couple of days while temperatures cool further East across the Great Lakes and Northeast.

A strong ridge of high pressure has developed along the west coast bringing triple digit heat from California to Oregon.  Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings remain in place from California to Arizona. 

The blocking pattern that has been in place will begin to break down by the end of the week and weekend with the flow of the jet stream becoming more zonal, or west to east.  This will allow fast moving storm systems to move across the middle the country with several chances for showers and thunderstorms, with the first arriving Friday night into Saturday.  Rain chances return through the weekend and into next week with possibly another round of soggy and heavy rainfall possible.