Summertime storms, flooding downpours to persist into new week across central, eastern US
Damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours will impact millions from the Front Range of the Rockies to the Atlantic coast in the new week, threatening summertime outdoor plans.
This house was directly struck by a lightning bolt during a stormy day in Evergreen, Alabama, on June 19. The strike left behind roof damage to the home.
The sizzling, stormy start to July will continue into another week, as the risk for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding shifts across the central and eastern part of the nation, warn AccuWeather meteorologists.
Since the beginning of the month, there have been over 2,000 reports of severe weather stretching from the Plains to the East Coast, with nearly a thousand incidents on the Fourth of July alone.
Fireworks and lightning over the National Mall during an Independence Day event honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Though the severe weather may not be as widespread, it will still be present and span dozens of states through the first full week of July. Even in areas that won't see damaging storms, there can still be flooding downpours that can interrupt travel and outdoor plans.
Drenching downpours in the Northeast
Following the firework-interrupting storms on the Fourth, drenching thunderstorms will still be around to close out the holiday weekend and start the new week in the Northeast, say AccuWeather meteorologists. Many of the storms can lead to disruptive, and even dangerous localized flooding.
"Thunderstorms can train repeatedly over the same areas and result in flash flooding," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers. "These instances of flash flooding can impact people returning home from the holiday weekend and the Monday morning commute."
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Storms developing across the mid-Atlantic on Sunday could produce damaging wind gusts, but the primary threat will be torrential rainfall, with rates exceeding 2 inches per hour in an atmosphere rich in moisture. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ is 9 inches.
The threat will extend through Monday and into southern New England, as well, with localized rainfall totaling several inches possible.
Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York, are among the metropolitan areas that can experience the flash flooding. This includes the Interstate 70 and 80 corridors; driving through flooded roadways should always be avoided.
A meandering severe risk for the new week
After peaking with a rare 'high' risk for severe weather in the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday, the threat for dangerous thunderstorms will meander and shift south and west in the coming days, mostly on the periphery of a heat dome.
"While the heat dome will be flexing itself in the West, thunderstorms will continue to erupt east of the Rockies throughout the week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Through Tuesday, at least 'some' risk for severe thunderstorms can be expected across nearly a dozen states from Texas to Wisconsin. A severe thunderstorm is one that contains damaging wind gusts of at least 58 mph, hail of 1 inch or greater in diameter or a tornado.
"While an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the meteorological set up doesn't necessarily favor it," added Roys.
The storms, which will peak in coverage each afternoon and evening, will feed off heat from a heat dome setting up in the West, as well as moisture streaming north out of the Gulf.
Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis, are among the cities that can be impacted, with the primary threats being powerful wind gusts and damaging hail.
The impacts from the storm may not be all bad news. "While heavy rain can lead to localized flooding from storms running over the same areas, the rainfall will be beneficial to the summer what, corn and soybean crops," added Roys.
While the focus for some storms will be in the Central states, the East will not be devoid of them. A continued daily threat for a few gusty storms will be found in the southern mid-Atlantic states, as well as at some popular summertime beach locales through Tuesday.
Those vacationing in Virginia Beach, Virginia; the Outer Banks of North Carolina; or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, may have to temporarily halt summertime activities and seek shelter from storms as they roll through each afternoon and evening.
In addition to the risk for severe weather, lightning always poses a hazard, especially during this time of year. At the first sign of a thunderstorm, those outdoors on beaches, lakes or pools should head indoors.
The severe weather risk will not end on Tuesday. Additional thunderstorms are expected to be on the prowl in both the East and the North Central states through at least Thursday, posing a risk for flooding and localized severe weather.
"It wouldn't be surprising to see some areas in the Plains and Midwest to see several inches of rain," said Roys.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Jack Wojczynski contributed to this story.
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