D Lo, MS

Weather Underground midday recap for Saturday, May 26, 2012. A busy day greeted parts of the country at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. First, Subtropical Storm Beryl formed off the Carolina Coast and was expected to move slowly west-southwestward toward the northeast coast of Florida. Beryl is anticipated to make landfall late Sunday evening or early Monday with tropical storm strength winds before lingering over the area through Tuesday. Northern Florida and adjacent areas of Georgia are currently suffering through an exceptional drought, so the significant rain from Beryl will help to alleviate some of the drought.

Meanwhile, an intense heat wave gripped the Southern Plains and Southeast on Saturday. This heat wave produced temperatures well into the 90s for a wide swath the country from eastern New Mexico through Georgia. Temperatures in the 90s were also observed well north into the Central Plains and Ohio Valley. Heat index values, which tell how warm the air feels, rose above 100 degrees along the Gulf Coast where the humidity was elevated. This heat wave was expected to continue and expand Sunday, with more areas warming above 100 degrees.

While no severe weather has formed by the early afternoon, there remains a slight risk of severe weather in the Plains into the evening. This severe weather can include strong thunderstorms, large hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes. Residents in the Plains should monitor local weather conditions.

The Southern Plains and Southeast rose into the 90s and 100s, while the Northeast saw temperatures in the 70s and 80s. The Southwest rose into the 80s and 90s, while the Northwest saw temperatures in the 70s.