Recent hot summer weather and a persistent surge of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico have caused rounds of severe thunderstorms across much of the country. More of the same is predicted for the Midwest and Northeast this week as a cold front moves eastward. Major airports in the region run the risk of experiencing delays in air travel due to the weather.
Severe Weather
Since the beginning of this month, the northern Plains have been the main target of severe weather, with the area experiencing severe weather every day. On Friday, hurricane-force wind gusts were recorded from powerful storms, with one gust reaching 91 mph. In Big Sandy, Montana, which is in the state's north-central region, wind gusts of 91 mph were recorded on Friday, signaling the storm's peak intensity. Through the weekend, the storms persisted, with winds in Rapid City, South Dakota, reaching 75 mph.
Similar conditions will exist into Monday night for the start of this week's intense thunderstorm season. All of the conditions for thunderstorm development will be present as an expanding dome of heat brings sweltering temperatures to the southern Plains and Southwest.
Grady Gilman, an AccuWeather meteorologist, explained that southwesterly winds will bring a warm and humid air mass into the Midwest ahead of an impending cold front. Together, these two elements will be sufficient to establish a wide severe threat zone that extends from the Great Lakes westward into the Plains.
Storms are likely to start developing across the threat area in the early afternoon and move southward and eastward throughout the evening and overnight. Residents of towns like Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Wichita, Kansas, will want to keep an eye on the most recent watches and warnings in case any storms are approaching.
Thunderstorms in the Chicago metro area may cause problems for drivers and people attempting to fly into or out of the city during the evening rush hour.
Hail + Strong Winds
While any storm that forms over the Plains or the Midwest may produce hail and strong winds, the area from central Illinois to southern Michigan is expected to have the highest chance of tornadoes.
Storms may move south and east later on Monday night, potentially affecting cities like Detroit and Indianapolis. Although severe thunderstorms are less likely to occur here, a round of gusty storms is still a possibility and could result in isolated power outages.
The severe threat will change as the cold front moves toward the east on Tuesday. The mid-Atlantic and Northeast will take center stage as the Plains and the majority of the Midwest finally experience a break from thunderstorm activity.
Temperature Spike + Humidity
These storms will be fueled by an increase in the area's high temperatures and humidity, just like the day before. The Northeast is expected to experience a temperature spike ahead of the incoming front, which will create the ideal conditions for a round of severe thunderstorms with widespread temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s F. Humidity and the blazing summer sun could cause temperatures to rise as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas.
Gilman said that a northward surge of moisture will end the recent period of low humidity in the Northeast while also allowing for the development of thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon.
Storms may form initially close to the Great Lakes before moving south and east. Inconvenient storms may occur in the afternoon in cities like Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Syracuse, New York, so plans that involve being outside during those times may need to be revised. Storms may move further east and south during the evening toward the nearby coast and the mid-Atlantic. In Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York City, storms may cause delays on the way home.
Some people in the Northeast will be relieved by the rain that comes along with the thunderstorms. As stated by the U.S. According to the Drought Monitor, some areas of the area have experienced unusually dry conditions. Small streams have dried up as a result, and dry patches of grass have begun to appear on unwatered lawns.
The threat posed by severe storms will only last for a brief period, AccuWeather reports. By Wednesday, the cold front will have left the East Coast, and by the middle of the week, dry weather will be back.
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