Heat waves reach records in recent years 1:03
(CNN) --
Many see Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer.
But, if you're planning outdoor events, you might want to read this first.
Otherwise, you could find yourself overheated without the right frozen cocktail, trying to barbecue in winter weather... or running for shelter from what you might think is "an unexpected storm".
A snowfall at the end of the season
Map of below and above average temperatures
More than a foot of nirvr could fall in parts of the US So don't expect to see many photos of people grilling on a fluffy white rug.
Knee-deep snow is likely to stick to higher elevations (over 8,000 feet) in the northern Rockies.
"For those with holiday weekend plans, please plan accordingly for wet and harsh inland conditions," the National Weather Service office in Missoula, Montana said.
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Most of the heavier snow will fall Sunday through Monday.
Snow levels on Sunday will drop to between 1,676 and 1,828 meters, the Missoula office forecast.
Expect cooler temperatures and wet conditions for the second half of the weekend at lower elevations.
This includes the entire Northwest, where there will be cooler weather and precipitation from Portland, Oregon, to Fargo, North Dakota.
The western coastal areas will be the first to get wet weather starting this Saturday, slowly creeping east through the beginning of next week.
triple digit heat
In the eastern half of the country, most of this week's rain will finally move away from the East Coast by midday Saturday.
So be sure to set up your grill, order food, and plan for frozen drinks.
The weekend will be sunny and hot for most residents from Texas to Maine.
A dome of high pressure will keep skies clear but allow temperatures to rise above average on Monday.
The worst of the heat will fall on Texas, where temperatures will soar into the 100s.
Check here to see how hot your city will be
Record high temperatures could even be in danger in the Texas Panhandle, the weather service in Amarillo said.
To make matters worse, this region will dry out again and winds will pick up as the weekend progresses, raising fire weather conditions once again.
That's terrible news for New Mexico, where wildfires continue to rage out of control.
The largest fire on record in the state, the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, has burned more than 310,000 acres.
Another forest fire, the Black fire, has burned around 70,010 hectares.
Conditions have improved in the state in recent days, but this weekend will see another round of dangerously windy and dry conditions.
Temperatures begin their rapid warm up today.
Light winds are still in store, but will ramp up just in time for Memorial Day Weekend.
This will cause widespread critical fire weather conditions so please be mindful with whatever your weekend plans are.
#NMwx #NMFire #OneLessSpark pic.twitter.com/1M8pd4mJmN
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) May 26, 2022
"Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected Saturday," the weather service in Albuquerque said.
There is a bit of hope for New Mexico, as the first substantial chance of afternoon showers in months could come in the middle of next week.
Repeated severe storms
Speaking of afternoon showers, severe thunderstorms are forecast for this Saturday, Sunday and Monday along the border between cooler air in the Northwest and oppressive heat.
The northern plains could see day-to-day storms this weekend.
⚠We could see multiple rounds of severe weather through the #MemorialDayWeekend, with storms mainly during the evening & overnight hours.
If you have outdoor plans or will be camping, be sure to locate your nearest sturdy shelter before the storms develop!
pic.twitter.com/LPQtF3wPNL
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) May 26, 2022
"The chance of significant severe (storms) is increasing for both this Sunday and Monday across portions of the central and northern Great Plains in the upper Midwest," the Storm Prediction Center said Thursday.
People who live in or around Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Omaha, Nebraska and Minneapolis should pay close attention to this weekend's weather conditions and heed the advisory issued by the weather service.
Hazards include hail and high winds.
Some storms could be severe with the possibility of tornadoes.
HeatMemorial DaySnowStorms
