Collapse of Heat Dome Will Result in Rain and Storms for Central and Eastern U.S.
Record-breaking heat was the story for the Fourth of July weekend, forcing the cancellation of holiday parades and other events commemorating the nation's 250th birthday. While relief from the searing temperatures is finally on the way, the end of the heat wave will also usher in the threat of thunderstorms and flash flooding across portions of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. Read on for more information about when and where you can expect the storms to pop off in the coming days.
Storms Firing Up as Heat Breaks in the Midwest and the East
Forecasters are warning that the flip in the weather pattern will be a double-edged sword. While the extreme heat will abate, the risk of severe storms will accompany the cooldown. The onset of stormy conditions is a natural result of dramatic changes in temperatures.
Loads of moisture have been building up in the atmosphere in recent days. This moisture will be squeezed out once the heat dome fully collapses and cooler air comes in from the north.
Some areas of the central U.S. have already begun to experience the collapse of the heat dome and the resulting rain. Over 9 inches of rain fell in a period of just 24 hours to the northwest of Des Moines to bring the week to a close.
Looking ahead, a general 1 to 4 inches of rain is forecast to fall across Interstates 80 and 90 stretching from the Midwest to the Northeast by the time that the moisture is all wrung out. The bands of heavy rain may dive as far south as the Interstate 70 corridor as the week progresses.
Most of the rain will fall over a period of two or more days. However, that does not mean that some of the waves of rain will not be potent enough to trigger flash flooding.
Families extending their Fourth of July weekend camping plans may want to rethink plans to set up camp along small streams. These streams will be the first waterways to experience flooding.
The unsettled weather pattern will also come with the risk of locally gusty storms packing damaging winds. Frequent lightning strikes will also present risks to people spending time outside. A man lost his life in Florida when a lightning storm unfolded at Fort Myers Beach on Friday. Three others were injured by the bolt of lightning. The tragic event serves as a reminder about the dangers of lightning.
Rocky Start to the Work Week
It could be a rough transition back to reality after the long holiday weekend. Severe storms will kick off the work week across a large swath of the eastern U.S. on Monday. You can expect the storms to stretch from the Mississippi River Valley in Missouri and Arkansas up to the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.
Gusty winds will be one of the biggest dangers of Monday's weather maker. Forecasters are warning that these storms could reach speeds of up to 80 mph.
Farther east, storms will also come to life in a zone from near Pittsburgh to the coastline of Virginia. This area of impact will also experience high winds capable of bringing down trees and power lines.
Looking at a few areas of interest, Pittsburgh will start the day on a docile note on Monday. Storms are expected to erupt over the Steel City later in the day. Temperatures will top out in the mid 80s before falling to about the 70-degree mark overnight. Tuesday will be another dreary day in this part of western Pennsylvania, with cloudy skies and rainfall totaling about a quarter of an inch. The full effect of the collapsing heat dome will be felt on Tuesday as the mercury struggles to reach 80 degrees.
New York City will trade the heat for storms on Monday. Scattered thunderstorms will roam the Big Apple throughout the day on Monday and into the overnight hours. It will feel downright chilly with highs that max out in the low to mid 70s. Winds out of the east-northeast at 10 to 15 mph, and the thick cloud cover will make it feel even cooler.
The storms will ease on Tuesday in New York City; however, the rain showers and cloudy conditions will linger. Temperatures will once again max out at about 75 degrees before dipping into the mid 60s after the sun goes down.
Moving down the coastline, Virginia Beach, Virginia, will see the threat of storms later in the evening hours on Monday. More rain showers and storms will put a damper on beach plans on Tuesday. Like the rest of the region, the big weather headline will be the rapidly falling temperatures. The beginning of the week will see readings in the upper 80s, noticeably cooler than what was experienced over the weekend.
The threat of severe weather will not abate on Tuesday. Storms are in the forecast for the north-central U.S. and into the East through at least Thursday. For instance, cities such as Fargo, Minneapolis, and Green Bay could pick up several inches of rain by the end of the week. We will continue to keep you posted on the latest developments as the week progresses.
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