AccuWeather forecasters warn that the vast heat dome that will shape the weather in the eastern two-thirds of the country through the end of June will bring not only record temperatures but also severe thunderstorms that will continue to rage along its edges.
Storms caused by the interaction of warm air with cooler air on the periphery of a powerful anticyclone are expected in the coming days, primarily across the Plains and Upper Midwest, but could also affect parts of the Northeast, creating a “ring of fire.” They will pack a punch with the available atmospheric energy.
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“Storm systems moving along the northern and western edge of the heat ridge in the coming days will move quickly and produce heavy rain, lightning, hail and gusty winds,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill.
Storms to return to High Plains by weekend end
After severe thunderstorms battered the Great Lakes region and Northeast over the weekend, severe thunderstorms are expected to redevelop across the western High Plains during the second half of the weekend, according to AccuWeather extreme weather experts.
Thunderstorms produced widespread, damaging wind gusts in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota late Friday, leaving tens of thousands without power. South Dakota recorded wind gusts exceeding 100 mph from the storms.
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As of Saturday afternoon, these thunderstorms were still present over parts of the Great Lakes and southern Canada and continued to pose a threat of damaging winds, rain and hail as they moved southeast across upstate New York and New England Saturday evening and into Sunday morning.
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As the threat from the northeast weakens, attention will turn to the Front Range of the Rockies and western High Plains Sunday afternoon into the evening as powerful atmospheric energy moves toward the western edge of the heat dome.
For some regions, while rain from thunderstorms is undesirable due to the threat of wind and hail, it will be welcomed due to the ongoing dryness, although it may prove too rapid and excessive.
“With severe to exceptional drought and the potential for repeat storm cycles, any rain could cause standing water,” Merrill said. “The ‘wet train’ in New Mexico also has roots in former Hurricane Erick, which hit Mexico on Thursday, so heavy rainfall is likely in places.”
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A large area stretching more than a thousand miles from western Texas to northern Minnesota will be under threat from storms with damaging winds, large hail and even possible tornadoes.
“These storms are going to be very active and will have a lot of heat energy and will often produce lightning,” Merrill added. “So not only can the winds cause power outages and damage, but lightning can contribute to outages and damage.”
Conditions under the heat dome from the central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will be generally dry and oppressively hot early in the week due to descending high pressure air, although isolated local thundershowers are possible.
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Storms Return to Midwest and Northeast in New Week
After days of unbearable heat and high humidity, the threat of severe weather will return to areas near the northern edge of the heat dome until at least Wednesday, AccuWeather forecasters warn.
“Some of the developing storms could bring powerful por
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