A Multi-Day Severe Weather Threat Could Disrupt Labor Day Plans

The northern rim of a building heat dome will host the next wave of severe weather this week in the U.S. Read on for a closer look at when and where you should expect thunderstorms to pop up as the calendar flips from August to September.

Storms Set Up Along Northern Edge of Heat Dome

Several rounds of severe thunderstorms are forecast to erupt along the northern flank of a heat dome that is setting up shop across the Plains and into the Southeast this week. The latest forecast models signal that the storms will fire up in a zone from the Dakotas and Nebraska to the east into New York, New England, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

While most of the storm activity will happen during the afternoon and evening hours, you cannot count out a random morning or overnight thunderstorm. A good deal of moisture coming along with the storms will raise the threat of flash flooding. In addition, air travelers will want to be prepared for the likelihood of ground stops and flight delays.

Widespread storms on Tuesday will stretch for almost 1,500 miles from South Dakota and Nebraska all the way into the coastline in the Northeast. Many of the nation's most populated cities could see Tuesday's impacts, including Omaha, Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, Buffalo, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Likely impacts include high winds and heavy rain.

As is typical with these atmospheric setups, the areas closer to the core of the heat dome will not see any moisture.

Looking Ahead to Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday's primary zone of impact will shift farther east, stretching from Michigan's Lower Peninsula down into Delaware and New Jersey. Metro areas under this umbrella of potential severe weather include Detroit, Cleveland, Erie, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Some of these storms could stretch as far as northern Pennsylvania and central New York. The most potent storm cells will be capable of producing damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding.

Thursday's storms are forecast to fall farther south as the heat dome begins to break down. The greatest concentration of storms is expected to menace a swath of land from central Ohio to the east into New Jersey, Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula.

Places such as Pittsburgh are forecast to see scattered rain showers in the morning evolve into thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours. Periods of light rain will persist overnight. It will remain warm in the Steel City with highs of about 90 degrees and lows that bottom out at the 70-degree mark.

The active weather pattern is predicted to continue through the end of the work week in the Midwest and the Northeast. The storm cells will migrate farther south by the weekend, encompassing the Ohio Valley and the Southeast just in time for the Labor Day weekend. Campers or those with other outdoor plans will want to keep a close eye on this developing forecast in the days ahead.

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