The relentless stretch of extreme summer weather that has fueled destructive California wildfires, spawned tornadoes in the Midwest and pushed heat alerts across much of the country isn’t letting up.
On Tuesday, July 27, millions of Americans will once again contend with dangerous triple-digit heat while another round of severe thunderstorms threatens the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Farther north, heavy rain could trigger flash flooding from the Mid-Atlantic into parts of the Northeast, including the New York City metropolitan area.
The latest forecast comes after days of weather extremes across the country, from fast-moving wildfires in California to tornadoes and damaging winds in Wisconsin and a prolonged heat dome that has sent temperatures soaring well into the triple digits across the South.
“The unsettled weather pattern continues for the eastern U.S. while a dangerous heat wave persists across the South,” the Weather Prediction Center said in the short-range public discussion.
“Thunderstorms capable of severe wind gusts and a tornado threat are expected today from parts of the Mid-Atlantic southward into the Carolinas,” the Storm Prediction Center wrote. “A few severe wind gusts and hail may also occur this afternoon and evening across parts of the central High Plains.”
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A tornado impacted areas in Wisconsin, resulting in massive, widespread damage and power outages.
Flash flooding threat grows in the Northeast
The greatest flood concern Tuesday stretches from the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England, where repeated rounds of thunderstorms could dump heavy rain over the same locations.
The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall for parts of the New York City metropolitan area and surrounding Tri-State region, with a broader Slight Risk extending across portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Forecasters say slow-moving storms and repeated downpours could quickly overwhelm urban drainage systems and small streams, leading to dangerous flash flooding.
Severe storms could bring damaging winds, tornadoes
The latest severe weather threat comes on the heels of several rounds of storms that swept across the Midwest in recent days, spawning tornadoes, producing destructive straight-line winds and leaving widespread damage in parts of Wisconsin.
Now, forecasters say the focus is shifting east. The Storm Prediction Center warns that severe thunderstorms are expected Tuesday afternoon and evening from parts of the Mid-Atlantic into the Carolinas, where storms could produce damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.
The greatest tornado potential extends from southern Virginia into the Carolinas as storms organize and push toward the Atlantic coast.
Farther west, thunderstorms developing over the central High Plains could also produce isolated damaging wind gusts and hail.
Dangerous heat remains locked over the South
While the East contends with storms, a stubborn ridge of high pressure continues to fuel dangerous heat across much of the southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley and portions of the Southeast.
“High temperatures combined with high humidity, will produce dangerous heat indices approaching or exceeding 105 to 115 degrees,”
Warm overnight temperatures will provide little relief, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses for people without access to adequate cooling.
What does the heat dome mean for US weather?
A heat dome acts like a lid on the atmosphere, trapping heat over the same region for an extended period. “Heat domes are caused by a strong high pressure that extends over a large area and feeds on the heat and even expands a bit,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert. These large zones of hot air result in a combination of blistering temperatures, devastating wildfires and drought conditions.
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Monsoon keeps Southwest storm threat active
Across the Southwest, abundant monsoon moisture will continue producing daily thunderstorms capable of heavy rain.
“Active monsoonal moisture brings thunderstorms and flash flooding risk over the Four Corners Region, Rockies, and High Plains,” the Weather Prediction Center wrote.
Localized flash flooding remains possible near burn scars, slot canyons and steep terrain, underscoring how nearly every region of the country is facing its own weather hazard this week — from wildfire conditions in the West and dangerous heat in the South to severe storms and flooding in the East.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.
Contributing: Janet Loehrke, Karine Zaiets and Ramon Padilla