Tonight and tomorrow will be the last supermoon of 2020 and there won’t be another one until April 2021; plus, a heat wave in the West, heavy snow in the northern Rockies, and more of today’s weather news and forecast.
Last supermoon of 2020, best views on May 6-7
The “Super Flower Moon” or “Full Flower Moon” will feature its best views on Wednesday and Thursday evening this week, as the last supermoon of 2020. Wednesday, May 6 brings the best views, but the moon technically reaches its peak on May 7 and will rise at 7:52 PM PDT.
For spectacular morning viewing of the full, orange-colored moon, the peak time is in the predawn hours at 6:45 AM EDT on May 7.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, what we call the “Super Flower Moon” today, was called the “Full Flower Moon” by the Native Americans, particularly by the Algonquin tribe. The May full moon got this name because the month was full of flowers.
In previous centuries, communities also had a variety of different names for the full moon in May such as: Mother’s Moon, Milk Moon, and Corn Planting Moon.
Excessive heat in the West
Temperatures are going to be roughly 20 degrees above average in the West for the next two days. Los Angeles will reach the mid-90s, 20 degrees higher than average temperatures for May in the mid-70s.
In the Southwest deserts, excessive heat warnings have been issued as temperatures will soar into the mid-to-high 100s.
Wintry mix and heavy snow
A significant swath of the Northwest will see a wintry mix in portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Heavy snow is forecast over portions of western and southern Montana.
Mixed precipitation is also forecast for portions of the Virginia’s, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Thunderstorm forecast for May 6
Thunderstorms will be active in various parts around the country today. In the West, Northern Rockies and Central Plains, thunderstorms are forecast for portions of Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
In the South, thunderstorms will circle around the Gulf affecting all states in the coastal region from Texas to Florida. In the Southeast and Midsouth, thunderstorms will roll over portions of Kentucky, Tennessee, the Virginia’s, and the Carolinas.
Today’s US weather forecast
West: San Francisco 71, sunny; Los Angeles 92, partly cloudy; San Diego 83, partly cloudy; Reno 73, sunny; Las Vegas 100, partly cloudy; Salt Lake City 78, partly cloudy; Denver 75, mostly sunny.
Northwest & Northern Rockies: Seattle 58, rain; Medford 70, partly cloudy; Boise 59, windy; Billings 71, rain; Minot 66, mostly sunny; Rapid City 63, partly cloudy; Cheyenne 64, partly cloudy.
Southwest: Phoenix 106, mostly sunny; Tucson 105, sunny; Albuquerque 87, mostly sunny; El Paso 96, sunny; San Antonio 87, partly cloudy; Brownsville 89, thunderstorms.
Central & Upper Midwest: Lubbock 83, sunny; Dallas 83, sunny; Oklahoma City 76, partly cloudy; Kansas City 64, partly cloudy; Minneapolis 67, partly cloudy; Madison 65, partly cloudy.
Ohio Valley: Chicago 60, partly cloudy; St. Louis 64, partly cloudy; Detroit 60, partly cloudy; Cincinnati 61, rain; Indianapolis 61, sunny.
South: Houston 86, mostly sunny; New Orleans 83, partly cloudy; Memphis 63, partly cloudy; Birmingham 69, sunny; Atlanta 67, mostly sunny; Charlotte 70, rain; Jacksonville 87, thunderstorms; Tampa 86, partly cloudy; Miami 91, partly cloudy.
East: Norfolk 69, partly cloudy; Washington, D.C. 56, rain; Philadelphia 53, rain; Buffalo 53, cloudy; New York City 55, rain; Boston 53, partly cloudy; Bangor 60, partly cloudy.