Widespread heat is expected to impact millions as a dangerous heat wave materializes over the Plains and East Coast during the latter part of this week.
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Currently, Excessive Heat Advisories and Warnings are in effect over the Mid Atlantic, Northeast, lower Great Lakes, and much of the Great Plains.
Within these areas, daytime temperatures are forecast to approach and exceed 95 100F heading into this weekend, but oppressive humidity will make these temperatures feel much hotter.
Heat index values are set to approach 105 110F on Thursday and Friday, especially over the Mid Atlantic and Central Plains.
In addition to the hot daytime highs, nighttime lows are also expected to be 10 to 15 degrees above average, with the potential for several warm nighttime low records to be broken.
Some areas may not see their heat indices drop below 80 degrees overnight.
Residents that are under heat related advisories and warnings should practice heat safety this week as this heat wave will be the hottest stretch of summer so far for many.
Heading into this weekend, the orientation of heat is expected to shift; an upper level ridge will amplify over the Central Plains, resulting in the continuation of hot weather over the central U.S.
On the contrary, relief is expected to arrive in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic over the weekend as a cold front ushers in much cooler and drier air over the weekend.
High temperatures expected to maximize in the low to mid 80s over the region by Sunday.
While much of the country will be experiencing hot weather, other parts of the country will be experiencing severe weather.
In the Northeast, an upper level shortwave will help to force an area of severe thunderstorms.
The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an area with a Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms (level 2/5) over the Northeast Corridor, noting the potential for strong wind gusts and an isolated tornado or two.
Additionally, anomalously high moisture content across the region may set the state for possible flash flooding across New England.
WPC has issued a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) across this region, noting the potential for thunderstorms to produce heavy rain rates over highly saturated soils from previous heavy rainfall.
A second area of strong thunderstorms is expected to impact the Upper Midwest along a cold front seeping through the region.
A very unstable airmass is expected to develop during the afternoon, and these two features will positively interact to produce an area of severe thunderstorms over Minnesota.
This complex of thunderstorms will move east southeastward through portions of Wisconsin overnight.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for Severe Thunderstorms over the region, as these thunderstorms may have the potential to produce damaging wind gusts very large hail.
Over the following days, daytime convection is expected to form along the cold front sweeping through the Great Lakes, which will provide some relief from summer heat across the northern tier of the country.
Elsewhere, an upper low off the coast of Florida is producing an area heavy rain and thunderstorms across much of the Florida Peninsula, especially southeast Florida.
WPC issued a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall across the region given urban sensitivity to flash flooding in southeast Florida.
This upper low is expected to drift into the Western Atlantic by Friday, helping to lessen the heavy rain threat.
Over the West, the heat wave continues, with above average temperatures persisting.
Several locations are set to near record highs and record warm lows in the short term forecast.
Additionally, daily scattered diurnal showers and thunderstorms forecast across the region, especially over areas of complex terrain. ■