Midwest, East Coast could see damaging winds, flash flooding this week
Widespread thunderstorms are forecast to sweep the northern U.S. starting Sunday evening, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds, and a risk of flash flooding through early next week. The Great Lakes and Ohio Valley face the highest threat as storms ride the edge of a heat dome, with gusts up to 85 mph and potential power outages. The system is expected to push southeast into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, disrupting travel along the I-95 corridor from New York City to Raleigh. Prolonged downpours could linger into Tuesday, with urban flash floods possible in New England, while hazardous heat persists across the central and southern U.S. ahead of the unsettled pattern, signaling a multi-region impact with evolving conditions into midweek.
Dive Deeper:
The storm system is set to develop from Sunday evening into a widespread event featuring heavy rain and damaging wind gusts, particularly across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
Forecasters warn that the sequence could topple tree limbs and cause power outages, with lightning and downpours expected Monday afternoon into the evening.
As the system moves southeast, it will affect travel along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to Raleigh, bringing a combination of damaging winds, hail, and heavy rainfall.
A northern periphery of prolonged heavy rain raises the risk of flash flooding from Buffalo to Boston, with potential urban flooding in areas with poor drainage in New England by Wednesday.
Beyond the storm, hazardous heat will persist across the central and southern United States, with weekend highs in the upper 90s to low 100s and heat indices climbing above 105 to 115 degrees in several regions.
The scenario emphasizes uncertainty about exact storm placements on a day-to-day basis, as prior thunderstorm development influences where the highest risk emerges just hours before formation.