Update 05/25/18

The atmosphere is trying!  At least during this past 7 days there has been an increase in precipitation spatially and more occurrences.  Impressive rains fell across eastern New Mexico and the northwest Texas Panhandle.  But wow some areas that have missed out continue to miss on the bigger rains!  Here is a map of the past 7 days....notice the pockets of very little rain during this period:



Again, some of the areas that have missed out (like Amarillo and northwest of Liberal) continue to miss.  You would think that eventually law of averages would prevail.  But, this atmospheric flow that is in place is NOT typical for May.


Here is the satellite image from this Friday morning....

 

The flow across the central U.S. is very weak for this time of year.  Yet, there have been a few disturbances that have moved through that have brought almost daily thunderstorms in the region.  That will briefly change for a couple of days but then attention turns to the upper low (the red L) and trough across the far western U.S..  This system should gradually transition to the east during the next 5 days, but will also be weakening as it does.  However, there should be enough flow aloft to bring a chance for more organized severe weather to the high plains - maybe as early as Sunday evening, but more likely next week.   Here is the outlook for precipitation through next Thursday:


BTW, look at all that rain for the southeast!  This will be from (mostly) tropical system  Alberto, which may make hurricane strength before making landfall.

Temperatures will continue on the very warm to hot side (hottest will be this weekend and then late next week).  This month will go down in the record books at many locations as being the warmest May on record (and this right after one of the coldest Aprils on record)! 

Later next week I'll refine the rain and temperature outlook for June through the end of the summer for the high plains.