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NWS Forecasts Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding in Southern Plains, Great Lakes; Record Heat in Eastern US

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NWS Forecasts Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding in Southern Plains, Great Lakes; Record Heat in Eastern US

The US National Weather Service on Tuesday said the region stretching from the southern Plains into the lower Great Lakes were expected to experience widely scattered severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding.

Meanwhile, portions of southwest US and southern High Plains will continue to encounter elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions due to the presence of gusty winds and dry conditions.

In eastern US, temperature records are expected to be challenged by an early-season heatwave.

The NWS early Wednesday issued a freeze warning for Wyoming's Rawlins, Kaycee, Wright, Baggs, Muddy Gap, Bill, Glenrock, Casper, Douglas, Shirley Basin, Medicine Bow, Saratoga, Elk Mountain, Bosler, Laramie, Centennial, Hulett, Sundance, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Riverton, Lander, Dubois, Worland, and Rock Springs.

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PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power is the primary electricity provider in Wyoming.

Colorado's Rangely, Meeker, Craig, and Steamboat Springs were also covered under a similar warning. Xcel Energy (XEL) and Black Hills unit (BKH) Black Hills Energy are the primary electricity providers in the state.

In North Dakota, affected areas included Lisbon, Ashley, Jamestown, Fargo, Harvey, Grand Forks, Devil's Lake, Rugby, Bismarck, Langdon, and Grafton. Xcel Energy, MDU Resources (MDU) unit Montana-Dakota Utilities, and Otter Tail (OTTR) subsidiary Otter Tail Power are the major electric utility service providers in North Dakota.

A freeze warning was also issued for South Dakota's Miller, Pierre, Huron, Brookings, Redfield, Aberdeen, Watertown, Milbank, Sisseton, and Mobridge. Xcel Energy, NorthWestern Energy (NWE), Montana-Dakota Utilities, Otter Tail Power, and Black Hills Energy are among the major electric utility service providers operating in the state.

Idaho's Arco and Rigby, which fall under the service area of by Idacorp (IDA) subsidiary Idaho Power, were also covered by a freeze warning watch.

In Minnesota, a freeze warning was issued for Bemidji, Roseau, Thief River Falls, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd, Duluth, Ely, International Falls, and Grand Maraias. The main service providers in Minnesota are Otter Tail Power, Allette (ALE) subsidiary Minnesota Power, Xcel Energy and Alliant Energy (LNT).

The NWS issued a flood warning for Missouri's Nevada, Osage Beach, Clinton, Jefferson City, Lebanon, Rockport, Grant City, Maryville, Butler, Camdenton, Boonville, Columbia, Sedalia, St. Joseph, Chillicothe, Carrollton, Warrensburg, and Harrisonville. Evergy (EVRG), Ameren's (AEE) Missouri unit, and Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) subsidiary Liberty are the major service providers in the state.

In Kansas, where Evergy is among the major service providers, the NWS issued a flood warning for Leavenworth, Paola, and areas near Iola.

Flood warnings were also issued for certain areas in Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington, while Georgetown in Texas was placed under a flash flood warning watch.

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