Stormy Conditions to Mark the Next Few Days for Central and Eastern U.S.

Severe storms will be a mainstay across parts of the central and eastern U.S. in the days ahead as the heat dome breaks down and ushers in unsettled conditions. Some areas of the country that have dodged severe weather will be caught up in the latest weather maker. Read on for more details about what areas should brace for storms as the month of June comes to a close.

Severe Weather Will Build as Heat Dome Breaks Apart

Copious amounts of energy circulating in the atmosphere will fuel the development of stormy conditions for the central and eastern portions of the nation. The isolated storm cells still present in the shrinking heat dome will become more organized and create a greater threat. In addition, the storms that have been roaming the outer rim of the heat dome will track to the east and the south, putting more communities at risk.

Potential impacts of the upcoming storms include brief periods of torrential rain, damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning strikes, and isolated tornadic activity. The latest round of storms first fired up on Wednesday morning in parts of the interior Northeast. This threat persisted throughout the day and into the evening hours, impacting parts of the Ohio Valley, the Appalachians, and the Atlantic Seaboard.

Heading into the weekend, the storms will tap into the atmospheric elements that serve as the most common triggers for summer thunderstorms. This includes weak frontal boundaries, movements in the jet stream, ocean breezes, and interaction with the mountainous terrain.

Thursday's Forecast Calls for More Severe Weather Threats

Thursday's forecast is calling for the greatest concentration of storms to set up over the Plains and the Midwest. A number of major metropolitan areas are in the line of fire for these storms.

Kansas City will start the day on a docile note with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures climbing into the low 90s will fuel the development of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds will be whipping around from the south-southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Thunderstorms will continue to be a nuisance in the evening and overnight hours as temperatures settle in the low 70s.

Omaha will also be at risk of storms firing up in the afternoon and evening hours. Some of the storm cells could pack gusty winds. The largest city in Nebraska is expecting a high of about 83 degrees and lows that fall into the upper 60s.

Portions of the Great Lakes could see some isolated storm activity on Thursday. Milwaukee is expecting the chance of isolated storms in the afternoon and evening that become more widespread and intense overnight. The city could experience heavy rain at times under the cover of darkness. The forecast is calling for a high of about 82 degrees and lows that settle in the upper 60s in this part of the region.

In addition to the Midwest and the Plains, the East Coast will also be at risk of stormy conditions on Thursday afternoon and evening. The bulk of the storms in the East will roam the corridors of interstates 81 and 85, stretching from Florida and up through Alabama, Mississippi, and to the north into Virginia and Maryland.

For instance, Knoxville, Tennessee, is forecast to be under the threat of scattered storms in the latter part of the day. Temperatures will remain toasty with a forecast high of about 94 degrees and lows that slide into the upper 60s.

Where to Expect Thursday's Heavy Rain

The infusion of cooler air coming down from New England on Thursday is forecast to stall out when it reaches the mid-Atlantic region. The result could be times of heavy rain throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania, the northeastern corner of Maryland, northern Delaware, the southwestern edge of New Jersey, and parts of southern New York state. The hardest hit areas could pick up several inches of rain, triggering dangerous flash flooding.

Places such as Scranton, Pennsylvania, will get caught in the crosshairs of the torrential rain. Gusty storms could accompany the moisture stream. Highs will top out at the 80-degree mark while lows will land at about 69 degrees.

Baltimore is in store for one more day of steamy conditions on Thursday. Charm City is anticipating mostly sunny skies early with storms coming to life in the afternoon. Highs will still manage to reach the mid 90s before sliding into the low 70s overnight when the cold front dips down.

A secondary pocket of torrential rain is in the forecast for sections of the central and northern Plains and the Upper Midwest. Iowa will be in the bullseye of the heaviest rain. This is a part of the region that has already measured significant amounts of rainfall this week. With more moisture headed this way, Iowa and Nebraska will be at a high risk of flash flooding.

For instance, Des Moines will see periodic storms and rain showers that intensify in the overnight hours. The capital city is forecast to hit a high of about 89 degrees before falling into the upper 60s overnight.

Moving farther to the north, Minneapolis is preparing for about half of an inch of rain on Thursday. The mercury will remain on the cool side with highs maxing out in the mid 60s. There will be little change in the temperatures overnight as lows bottom out at the 60-degree barrier.

More Storms on Friday on Saturday

More storm activity is anticipated for the end of the work week. The primary impact zone for Friday's storms will focus on central and western Nebraska, the Dakotas, and the northwestern fringe of Minnesota.

Get out early in the day for outdoor activities in Bismarck, North Dakota. After dry conditions and partly cloudy skies in the morning, rain and thunderstorms are likely to ignite in this part of the northern Plains. You can also expect a high of about 86 degrees and winds out of the south-southeast at 10 to 20 mph. The metro area will be under the threat of severe storms after the sun goes down as lows dip into the upper 50s.

The northern Plains will continue to see the storms erupt on Saturday. Storm cells moving to the east as the weekend progresses could usher in high winds and downpours. The line of storms will creep farther to the south on Saturday compared to Friday.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is forecast to see sunny skies and highs in the low 90s during the day. However, conditions will change quickly in the evening and overnight hours with the expectation of widespread thunderstorms.

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