High risk for severe weather to erupt in the mid-Atlantic
As severe thunderstorms target the Midwest and eastern US through midweek, rainfall in western Ontario may help suppress the wildfire smoke.
Storms brought heavy rain and wind to the Northeast on July 18.
As millions across the Midwest and Northeast continue to battle Canadian wildfire smoke, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the risk of severe thunderstorms that could bring some relief.
Somewhat cooler, less humid air from the Great Lakes to the northern portions of the mid-Atlantic clashed with very warm, humid air across the Southeast on Sunday, triggering severe thunderstorms across parts of the Southeast. Damaging wind gusts were reported from Virginia to Alabama.
On Monday, severe thunderstorms were concentrated farther west across Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The storms produced damaging winds, large hail of up to 3 inches in diameter and tornadoes.
By Tuesday, the risk will shift farther east and become more widespread across the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic as the front moves east. A high risk for severe thunderstorms is expected along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia.
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The main hazards will be flash flooding, hail, isolated tornadoes and widespread damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph.
The stretch of severe weather will continue on Wednesday, spanning from eastern portions of North Carolina to southern Maryland and Delaware.
Once again, flash flooding and damaging wind gusts will be the primary hazards in any thunderstorms.
Slow-moving and repeating thunderstorms will raise the risk of flash flooding in the East on Tuesday and Wednesday.
That heavy rain and flash flood risk will settle into the Southeast on Thursday.
Wildfire smoke to persist; any relief is 'iffy'
Numerous wildfires have been ignited by lightning strikes across the dense forests in western Ontario, northwest of Lake Superior, during July. Atmospheric conditions have ushered dense smoke southeastward into the United States and also mixed it down to ground level, leading to hazardous air quality.
Shifting winds will send alternating plumes of wildfire smoke and cleaner air southeastward across the Great Lakes and Northeast early this week, resulting in periods of improving and deteriorating air quality.
Smoke from large wildfires in Oregon will also spread across the Northwest and into the Midwest.
Some relief is possible this weekend as storms are expected to move over where large wildfires continue to burn in Canada.
"The same storm that will bring risks for severe weather to the Midwest and eastern United States early this week will also bring areas of rain and thunderstorms across western Ontario, potentially aiding in the firefighting efforts," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
However, if rainfall is limited, western Ontario will remain vulnerable to new lightning-sparked wildfires, further straining firefighting efforts. If this were to occur, additional rounds of low-level smoke could continue to spread into the Midwest and Northeast.
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