Weather whiplash

Colliding hot and cold fronts set to bring extreme heat, flooding and possible snow

Some areas between Miami and Fort Lauderdale were left underwater in recent days, as storms dumped up to 50 centimetres in southern parts of Florida. Forecasters said the threat of heavy rains in the state continues to dissipate, but some thunderstorms could cause local flooding given the already saturated soil.

After days of intense flooding in Florida, that state and many others are bracing for an intense heat wave, while the Pacific Northwest will experience unseasonably cold weather and there is a potential for late-season snow in the Rocky Mountains early next week.

The chaotic weather map includes the possibility of severe thunderstorms developing in between hot and cold fronts. Forecasters said the colliding fronts could lead to areas of flash flooding between eastern Nebraska and northern Wisconsin on Saturday night, as well as strong storms across parts of eastern Montana into North and South Dakota.

Meanwhile a plume of tropical moisture will reach the central Gulf Coast during the next couple of days, with heavy rain expected to start Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.