End of June to Feature More Widespread Storms for Millions of Americans

There will be no break for the storm-weary communities across the central and eastern U.S. in the days ahead. Storms will continue to roam this part of the country through the weekend and into the early part of next week. Here is a look at what to expect over the last weekend of June.

Storms Will Continue to Prowl the Central and Eastern U.S.

A decaying heat dome will pave the way for storms to fire up across much of the eastern half of the country over the next few days. While the temperatures have cooled considerably from the record-breaking readings earlier in the week, enough hot and humid air is still in place to support the development of storms.

The storms are forecast to come together near the boundary of the incoming cool front. Potential impacts of these storm clusters include flooding rainfall and high winds.

The primary impact zone for flash flooding concerns will be across the Ohio Valley and to the east into the central Appalachians and the southern fringe of Virginia. Forecasters are aligned in their predictions that this will be the most likely area to see heavy rain thanks to the wedge of cooler air that has set up across the northeastern U.S. and stalled out.

The same general areas of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland that saw flash flooding earlier in the month will once again be in the crosshairs of drenching rainfall. Meteorologists are warning that there is plenty of moisture to work with through the weekend.

Rainfall rates could hit 2 inches per hour in the hardest-hit areas. Rain of this magnitude is enough to turn small streams into rivers that quickly overwhelm roadways, drainage systems, and culverts.

The storm coming in behind a cold front will move into the Northeast on Saturday after it impacted the Great Lakes region on Friday. The advancing cool front will serve as the focal point for where the severe storms set up on Saturday. This frontal boundary will set the stage for localized high winds and heavy rain across the Appalachians and to the Atlantic coastline as the weekend kicks off.

For example, Washington, D.C. will once again be in the bullseye of potential storms during the afternoon and evening hours. Some of the storms could deliver gusty winds to the nation's capital. You can expect a high of about 90 degrees and readings that dip into the low 70s overnight.

Those in the Northeast will also be at risk of seeing storms pop up in the afternoon and evening. New York City will start the morning on a dry note with the threat of storms increasing as the day progresses. The Big Apple is expecting a high of about 88 degrees and lows that settle in the mid 70s.

There is also the chance that some of the most potent storm cells on Saturday afternoon could produce tornadoes. The highest risk of tornadic activity at this time will be across New York's Hudson Valley.

Also on Saturday, a secondary area of storms will affect a zone across the Great Lakes and portions of the central Plains. This is part of the same weather maker that impacted the northern Plains to close out the work week. In addition to high winds and flash flooding, damaging hail may also accompany this line of storms.

The forecast in this region is calling for wind gusts of up to 95 mph on Saturday throughout portions of central and southwestern Minnesota. Get out early for outdoor activities in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities are expecting a greater number of storms to fire up in the evening. Winds out of the south at 10 to 15 mph will pair with highs of about 87 degrees and overnight lows in the upper 60s.

Parts of the northern Plains are also expecting lingering storm activity on Saturday. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is forecast to see thunderstorm development in the latter part of the day and evening. Highs will soar into the low to mid 90s before landing at about 67 degrees after the sun goes down. Winds will be a nuisance in this part of the region, clocking in at 15 to 25 mph from the south.

Sunday's Forecast Calling for More Stormy Action

Sunday's forecast is predicting that locally severe thunderstorms will expand from Wisconsin to the south and the west into the High Plains of Colorado, Wyoming, and down through the northeastern corner of New Mexico.

The most powerful storms are expected to prowl portions of northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska and to the north into southwestern Wisconsin. Like the rest of the weekend impacts, residents should expect large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

The storms will take time to fire up in places like Kansas City. This metro area on the border of Kansas and Missouri is forecast to see widespread storms during the evening and overnight hours. The mercury will reach a high of about 92 degrees while lows will settle to about the 70-degree mark. It will be a breezy day in Kansas City with winds out of the south-southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

Moving to the south, the swath of land from the middle Mississippi Valley and down into Florida should also expect pockets of severe weather. While the eastern half of the nation will be dodging storms throughout the weekend, the western U.S. and most of the southern Plains will remain largely dry.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

The new work week will see the storms linger across the central Plains and up into the western Great Lakes. Cities that should expect storms to ignite across the trailing front on Monday include St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis.

After a dry weekend, Chicago will wake up to morning rain showers on Monday that evolve into scattered storms in the afternoon. Despite the cloud cover, the Windy City will still see temperatures reach the mid 80s. Conditions are forecast to clear up in the evening and overnight hours, ushering in a low of about 68 degrees.

It will also be a rocky day of weather in Detroit. This part of the Great Lakes is bracing for persistent rain and storms that linger well into the evening hours. Highs will top out in the low 80s before falling into the upper 60s overnight.

This same group of storms is likely to push to the east on Tuesday, potentially thwarting outdoor plans for portions of the Northeast and the southern Appalachians. We will continue to monitor the progression of these storms in the days ahead and provide updates as you look ahead to the Fourth of July holiday.

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