Fire alert in the southern and central US 0:45 (CNN) — On the eve of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, parts of the United States will be affected by high temperatures, including fire conditions. more critical and an abundance of tropical moisture; an undeniable sign that the boreal summer is coming. To say it’s been a rough few weeks for much of the Southwest would be an understatement. Record heat, raging fires and an unrelenting drought have ravaged the region. Fire conditions will be in the news again this week from California to Texas, as new record temperatures scorch the region. To start the week, a red flag and heat warnings were issued throughout California’s Central Valley. Temperatures will exceed 32.2°C and could even reach 37.7°C for Tuesday and Wednesday, where daily high temperature records could be set. US: Gas prices at 7-year high 1:08 Heat, gusty winds and dry conditions will also contribute to increased fire conditions today and tomorrow. “Northern winds, combined with low relative humidity values, will result in critical fire weather conditions Monday morning through Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service (NWS) office has projected. for its acronym in English) in Sacramento. Stronger winds are expected on Tuesday, with sustained speeds of up to 40 km/h and gusts of 56 km/h. And across the Southwest, “fire weather returns to parts of the West this week with very hot, dry air combining with gusty winds,” said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. “Thunderstorms with very little rain but lots of lightning will also be possible over very dry terrain in eastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado and western Texas.” Texas is a state that desperately needs help. Nearly 30% of Texas is now in exceptional drought conditions, the highest number since 2012. Earlier in the year it was in 0% drought. What is Memorial Day? 2:34 Abilene, Texas, has recorded 12 days in May with temperatures of 37.7°C or higher, setting a record for the most days in May with temperatures of 37.7°C or higher. The previous highest number of days in Abilene was 7 days, set in 1927 and equaled in 2000. Corpus Christi, Texas, recorded the third driest February-May period to date in 136 years of records. But the fortunes could change for some parts of Texas this week, at least for the western part of the state. “Our best chance of widespread beneficial showers for some time will come late this afternoon into tonight,” the National Weather Service (NWS) office in San Angelo said. “Also, as is typical for our spring rain events, this comes with a risk of severe thunderstorms.” Rain is forecast for much of the south this week, heavily. “Rain totals of 76mm and with localized pockets of up to 152mm between Monday and Tuesday could lead to flash flooding, despite dry soils throughout the region,” said CNN meteorologist Haley Brink. And more rain is coming for Memorial Day weekend. How a wildfire devoured California mansions 3:03 Storm Timeline A cold front will cross the country as we head into the latter part of the week, bringing showers and thunderstorms to much of the country just in time for the end holiday week. While some things could change by the end of the weekend, we have a pretty good idea of what’s in store for us. Saturday: This is the day in which we could register the greatest activity in terms of storms. The warm air that precedes the front will be the sign of some emerging showers and storms. As the front moves east, more storms are possible. The cold front will pass through the Plains and Upper Midwest on Saturday night. “Although there is a wide scatter from the models in terms of potential results, some convective development seems possible Saturday afternoon into the overnight period,” according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Behind the cold front, pleasantly cool temperatures will dominate much of the midsection of the country for a brief period before temperatures soar rapidly for Memorial Day, also known as Memorial Day. Sunday: If the timing of the front hitting the Plains and Midwest is accurate, then some rain will be recorded for the Ohio Valley on Sunday. “Thunderstorms, with some potentially strong, will be possible to develop along the front,” the SPC noted of Sunday’s threat. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has signaled an above-average chance of rain for much of the Plains and Midwest for next weekend, but below the East Coast. I still think we could get an injection of rain in the east, but again, uncertain. Historic heat wave will impact several parts of the US 0:46 The front should be a bit weaker by the time it reaches the Northeast, but could still bring a round of showers and possible thunderstorms. One thing is for sure: most of them will be searingly hot, like a roast on a hot bed of coals. “A warming with above-normal highs will return over the weekend across much of the Plains, with temperatures of 90 degrees and up as far north as central Nebraska, and even some above 37, 7°C for portions of West Texas,” the WPC stressed. The West Coast could get a reprieve, the WPC added: “A cooling trend will begin for the interior valleys of central California.” The CPC also highlights the heat wave, with more than half of the country expected to see above-normal temperatures next weekend. With temperatures between 32.2°C and 37.7°C, we can expect some pop-up style storms for areas, especially in the south for Memorial Day weekend. And we could see a similar trend over the next few months. Nearly all of the contiguous United States is expected to see above-normal temperatures this summer, which runs from June to August, according to a Climate Prediction Center outlook released Thursday. Memorial Day: The forecasting models disagree beyond Sunday, which is very typical when you’re talking about something happening a full week away, but we’ll give you the best forecast we can at this point. The SPC again mentions the possible storms for the Plains, as well as the uncertainty of the forecast. “On Monday, the uncertainty is magnified due to the large differences in the model solutions,” the SPC noted. “Although there will be potential for organized storms across the north-central United States into the south and central Altiplano, the uncertainty is too great to speculate on a specific scenario.” The bottom line is to watch out for showers and storms, especially in the midsection of the country. Check the forecast again, closer to Memorial Day, to be aware of any changes to the forecast. Keep an eye on the weather, regardless of your outdoor plans. Have a plan ready so you can get to shelter if storms start to come up, which can happen very quickly during the hot summer months.