Central US braces for potential derecho packed with ‘extreme’ 100+ mph wind gusts, baseball-sized hail

Central US braces for potential derecho packed with ‘extreme’ 100+ mph wind gusts, baseball-sized hail

The central U.S. is bracing for what could be a potentially dangerous end to the weekend as forecasters track the threat of severe weather on Sunday, including the potential for a derecho that could sweep across portions of Kansas and Oklahoma with destructive wind gusts higher than 100 mph and baseball-sized hail.

Raging fires in Mexico send smoke over southern US, reducing air quality readings from Texas to Florida

Raging fires in Mexico send smoke over southern US, reducing air quality readings from Texas to Florida

Mexico’s national forest commission reported 168 active wildfires have burned over a quarter of a million acres. Southerly winds help to send smoke northward towards Texas and the Gulf Coast. South Padre Island, Texas had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday as readings were considered to be in the ‘unhealthy’ range.