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The month of July will kick off on a blazing hot and stormy note across the Carolinas and parts of the Southeast, with temperatures well into the 100s and the threat for severe thunderstorms.

Severe thunderstorms are also expected to continue across portions of the Great Lakes. Temperatures will also be unseasonably hot in this region, climbing well into the 90s.

Many places across the Southeast on Saturday ended the month of June with high temperatures exceeding the century mark. The start of July today will be no different with highs once again forecast to reach the triple digits.

However, the searing heat won't be the only thing on the minds of residents in the Carolinas and parts of the Southeast today as damaging severe thunderstorms will be on the prowl later this afternoon.

For cities like Chicago, Ill. and Fort Wayne, Ind., Sunday's round of severe thunderstorms arrives on the heals of Friday's intense line of heavy thunderstorms, known as a "derecho" quickly rolled through, leading a path of destruction all the way to the Delmarva coast.

Cities in the threat zone for damaging thunderstorms include Raleigh, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., Columbia, S.C., and Atlanta Ga. in the Southeast. Great Lakes cities such as Indianapolis, Ind., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Chicago, Ill. will also be in the path of dangerous storms.

Building heat throughout the day will provide the fuel for thunderstorms to ignite. A disturbance in the upper levels of the atmosphere will plow into the region, causing thunderstorms to erupt, thrive and cause damage.

The greatest threats include blinding downpours, large hail and damaging wind gusts. The heaviest downpours will be capable of causing incidents of flash flooding, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Hailstones will have the potential to grow to the size of golf balls, which can be detrimental to cars, homes and tender vegetation. Straight-line winds will be capable of gusting past 60 mph, which can bring down trees and power lines.

Additionally, any thunderstorm can produce frequent and dangerous lightning. Those who will be trying to beat the heat by visiting pools or lakes will need to keep an eye out for lightning. If lightning is spotted, seek shelter immediately.

It is important to heed all watches and warnings and have a plan in place before severe weather hits. Know where to go and what to do in the event that a severe thunderstorm is tracking towards you.

Unfortunately, the round of dangerous thunderstorms set to explode later this afternoon will not be heat busting. Despite the strong storms, thermometers on Monday will be right back up in the upper 90s and low 100s.

Keep checking back with AccuWeather.com for the latest severe weather reports and updates.

Meteorologist Steve Travis contributed to this article.