More Storms Will Rattle a Large Part of the Central and Eastern U.S.

The central and eastern U.S. will continue to see regular rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms in the days ahead. The line of storms is expected to stretch from the north-central U.S. over to the East Coast throughout the week, raising the chances of severe weather and disruptions to everyday life. Here is what you need to know about the volatile weather pattern.

Unsettled Pattern Lingers Through the Central and Eastern U.S.

Daily thunderstorms will be a common occurrence for many areas of the central and eastern U.S. as the jet stream lifts to the north. The natural heating provided by the sun this time of the year will work to amplify the threat of storms in the afternoon and evening hours. Forecasters are warning that some of the storms could deliver severe impacts.

In addition to the chances of strong winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes, the persistent rain will raise the risk of flash flooding. This threat will be elevated in areas that are dealing with overly saturated grounds due to recent rainfall.

Storms that push through metro areas will inevitably contribute to airline disruptions and potential ground stops. Motorists will also be in the crosshairs of travel disruptions at the hands of ponding on roadways and poor visibility.

Timing and Target Zones of the Storms

The nation's heartland will be in the bullseye of storms on Tuesday afternoon and into the overnight hours. The primary impact zone will encompass the southeastern edge of Colorado, most of Kansas, northern Oklahoma, southwestern Texas, and a bulk of Missouri. The northern fringe of Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and southeastern Wisconsin will also be at risk of seeing storms pop up. On the western edge of the storm cells, parts of Wyoming, Nebraska, and southwestern South Dakota will also likely be impacted by the chance of severe weather.

The greatest concentration of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday will be in Kansas, eastern Colorado, and southern portions of Nebraska. Wichita will be in the center of the action on Tuesday morning with scattered storms. The storms will pull back during the afternoon for the city in south-central Kansas, however, the respite will not last for long.

More storms and heavy rain are in the forecast for the overnight hours on Tuesday and into early Wednesday. The metro area should expect strong thunderstorms during the evening, with a steady rain developing after midnight. You can expect 1 to
2 inches of rain at this time, pairing with winds that hit speeds of 10 to 20 mph. Highs in the upper 80s on Tuesday will slip into the mid 60s overnight.

Looking Ahead to Wednesday's Forecast

The stormy conditions will push through the Midwest and into the southern Plains by Wednesday. This movement will put the greatest chance of storms in areas to the south and the east of Tuesday's activity. For example, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, western portions of Pennsylvania, and West Virginia will see some of these impacts. To the south, the storms are forecast to stretch into north-central Texas.

A number of major urban areas will be under the threat of storms on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Indianapolis is bracing for storms to pop off in the afternoon and evening. The big weather story of the day in Indy will likely be the winds, coming in at speeds of 20 to 30 mph from the south-southwest on Wednesday.

Wednesday is also shaping up to be a messy day of weather in Chicago. The Windy City is forecast to see rain showers in the morning evolving into scattered storms in the afternoon. Highs will bounce around in the mid 70s before sliding to about 63 degrees after the sun goes down. It will also be a breezy day with winds out of the east-southeast at 10 to 20 mph.

The middle of the work week is also when St. Louis is expected to see the greatest chance of storms. The Arch City is predicted to see afternoon rain showers and storms that could impact the evening commute. The mercury will reach the mid 80s before dipping into the upper 60s overnight. Winds will clock in at 10 to 20 mph from the southwest.

Eastern U.S. Also Forecast to See Scattered Storms

In addition to the flurry of storm activity over the central U.S, several states in the East will also be at risk of severe weather. Tuesday's storms in the eastern U.S. will roam across portions of West Virginia, southeastern Ohio, western and southern Pennsylvania, central and western parts of Maryland, much of Virginia, northwestern North Carolina, the northeastern corner of Tennessee, and eastern Kentucky.

The highest risk of tornadic activity on Tuesday will be in eastern Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, and the northwestern fringe of West Virginia. Residents in this area will want to stay on top of all weather alerts and have a plan to get to safety if needed.

Heading into Wednesday, gusty thunderstorms could ignite across parts of the mid-Atlantic along the busy Interstate 95 corridor. Baltimore will wake up to cloudy skies but dry conditions on Wednesday. Storms could erupt in the afternoon hours as the temperatures reach the low 90s. A similar setup will raise the risk of storms during the latter part of the day on Thursday in Charm City. Thursday's readings will trend even hotter, hovering in the mid 90s during the peak afternoon heating hours.

The chances of severe storms will persist across the mid-Atlantic on Thursday. However, it will also begin to expand to include parts of the central Appalachians and up into New England.

This means that areas such as New Hampshire, Vermont, and Upstate New York should be prepared for severe weather on Thursday. The same threats will stretch to the south and into northwestern North Carolina and northeastern Tennessee.

Cities in the impact zone of Thursday's severe storms include Washington, D.C. The unsettled weather will be a continuation of Wednesday's threat of storms in the nation's capital. The most likely time for storm development on both days will be in the afternoon and evening hours as the mercury climbs into the upper 80s and the low 90s.

The long-range forecast models indicate that a heat dome will build over the Plains states and into the Mississippi Valley by the end of the week and into the weekend. The building heat will support the development of thunderstorms to form along the rim of the dome.

This is the type of weather pattern best known for producing long-lived storms known as derechos. These destructive thunderstorms can cause extensive property damage over hundreds of miles. This will be a situation that forecasters continue to monitor in the days ahead, particularly in the area from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes and over into the Appalachians.

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