Week of Stormy Weather as Ring of Fire Circles Around Heat Dome

What meteorologists refer to as a "ring of fire" is taking root over the northern ridge of the heat dome currently anchored over the central and eastern portions of the country. Here is a look at what areas should expect the thunderstorm activity in the next few days.

Ring of Fire Forming Along Edges of Heat Dome

This ring of fire is going to continue to ride along the rim of the heat dome, bringing high winds, torrential rainfall, and the chance of tornadic activity to the northern tier of the U.S. This thunderstorm action is typical this time of the year when heat builds and competes with cooler temperatures to the north.

Thunderstorms tend to be less likely within the core of the heat dome as the air is too warm throughout all layers of the atmosphere. However, the northern and western flanks of the dome typically contain cooler air that supports the development of clouds capable of generating storms. This is why forecasters are warning those on the northern edge of the dome to expect storms. Additionally, those left behind the dome when it moves to the east will also be under the gun for storms.

The name "ring of fire" comes from the tendency of the storms to come to life along the edge of the dome, forming a ring of severe impacts. It is more challenging to predict where the storms will ignite due to their sporadic nature. There are also times when large clusters of storms congregate to form a solid line.

It has already been a week of deadly storms for the northern Plains. A storm packing winds of over 100 mph tore through parts of the Plains on Friday. A tornado near the town of Enderlin, North Dakota, killed three people. Thousands of residents were left without power as a result of the storm's powerful winds. A second twister was confirmed near the town of Spiritwood, located to the west of Fargo.

The storm action will be the greatest during the afternoon and evening hours, thanks to the natural heating of the day. The zone of potential storms this week will stretch from north-central portions of Mexico, all the way into New England and southeastern Canada, covering an area that is over 2,000 miles long.

Some communities will see repeated storms over the next few days. Conversely, other areas in the potential impact zone may miss out on the storms completely. Storms that do fire up will carry the risks of locally damaging winds, frequent lightning strikes, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Monday's stormy conditions stretched from the Texas Panhandle and up into Michigan. The Northeast dodged the worst of the impacts on Monday, however, things will change heading into Tuesday.

Tuesday's Storms Will Cover the Plains States and to the Western Great Lakes

Tuesday will bring another day of storms for the Plains states and to the east into the western Great Lakes. Chicago will enjoy calm conditions early before the chance of rain showers and storms increases in the afternoon hours. Temperatures will continue the downward trajectory in the Windy City, topping out in the mid 80s for a high. Overnight lows are expected to dip into the mid 60s.

To the west, the storms will also roam eastern portions of Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Denver will see an increasing threat of storms in the latter part of the day as more clouds build. The arrival of the clouds will keep the temperatures in the upper 70s, paired with winds out of the east-northeast at 10 to 15 mph. The mercury will slide to about the 60-degree barrier after the sun goes down in the Mile High City.

Moving to the east into the northern Plains, Rapid City, South Dakota, is expecting dry conditions early with rain and storms a possibility in the afternoon, evening, and overnight hours. Winds will clock in at 10 to 15 mph from the southeast while temperatures will struggle to climb out of the upper 70s. It will be a chilly night with lows that fall into the upper 50s.

Wednesday's Storm Line to Creep Farther to the East

The line of storms will inch farther to the east by Wednesday. However, the High Plains and the Midwest will also continue to be at risk of unsettled conditions. For instance, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, could see a messy morning commute with scattered thunderstorms. The city in the eastern part of the state should also brace for the possibility of heavy rainfall. The storms will ignite again in the evening and overnight hours. You can expect a high of about 78 degrees and lows that hover in the mid 60s.

Minneapolis will experience a dramatic shift in the weather on Wednesday. After dry and warm conditions to start the week, the Twin Cities will see rainfall of about an inch on Wednesday along with highs that only reach the upper 60s. Lows will slip just a few notches, landing at about 62 degrees.

The risk of severe weather will creep along the northern edge of the dome on Wednesday, reaching portions of the Northeast by the end of the day. Pittsburgh will be in the crosshairs of thunderstorms packing gusty winds. It will remain toasty in the Steel City with a high in the low 90s. Lows will settle at about 72 degrees in this part of the interior Northeast.

The stormy weather will persist in portions of the Midwest, the Plains, and the Northeast on Thursday. In general, the spotty storms will remain an issue until the heat dome completely breaks apart. The collapse of the dome will also support the development of more widespread storms through the end of the work week. Storms tend to be more severe as heat waves dissipate.

It could be a soggy day for parts of southern New England. Hartford, Connecticut, is expecting extensive cloud cover and scattered rain showers on Thursday. The temperatures will plummet, plunging from highs in the mid 90s on Wednesday to readings that only see the low 70s for a high. Overnight lows will fall to the 60-degree barrier.

Ring of Fire Circles Down to the South

The southern tier of the heat dome will also be at risk of seeing storms pop up from time to time this week. The normal trade winds over Florida will be amplified by the breezes moving east to west. The movement of storms from east to west is typical across the Florida peninsula this time of the year.

As the storms push across the Sunshine State, they will pick up energy and become stronger. This movement means that the Gulf Coast will likely experience the most severe impacts.

We will continue to monitor where the storms are forming along the ring of fire and update accordingly. The bottom line is that the next few days will be largely unsettled in all areas impacted by the current heat wave.

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