The main weather story this week is a sharp split between stormy weather across the nation’s midsection and persistent summer heat farther south. Severe thunderstorms threaten parts of the central Plains and Lower Missouri Valley through tonight, with large hail, damaging winds and locally heavy rain possible. Another round of strong storms shifts toward the mid-Mississippi Valley Wednesday. Meanwhile, dangerous heat continues from the southern Plains through the Southeast, while expanding back into the Southwest. Later in the week, the Southeast finally gets some relief, but the heat hangs on farther west.

An active summer weather pattern will bring several areas to watch through early next week. The most immediate concern is across the Ohio Valley, where additional heavy rain falling on already saturated areas could produce considerable flash and urban flooding, while severe thunderstorms bring a damaging wind threat. Farther south, persistent heat and humidity will continue from the Southern Plains through the Southeast, with little overnight relief in some areas. Meanwhile, increasing monsoon moisture will bring repeated thunderstorms and a flash flood threat to the Southwest and Rockies, while additional rounds of storms and heavy rain remain possible from the Central Plains and Midwest into the East later this week.

The weather pattern across the United States and Canada remains highly active this week, with two major stories dominating the forecast. Dangerous, long-lasting heat continues across much of the South before expanding into the western United States by the weekend. At the same time, repeated rounds of thunderstorms will bring the threat of flash flooding and severe weather from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to parts of the Midwest and Gulf Coast. Residents across these regions should stay weather-aware as heavy rain, damaging winds, and dangerous heat create multiple hazards over the coming week.

Tropical Storm Bertha is one of several weather systems requiring attention this week. Bertha could bring tropical-storm conditions, storm surge and periods of heavy rain to portions of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coast through Wednesday before tracking westward along the central and western Gulf Coast. Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms and flash flooding may affect a broad area from the Mid-South and Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Monsoon thunderstorms will continue across the Southwest and Rockies, while dangerous heat gradually expands from the Southern Plains and Southeast into the central Plains and Interior West.

A prolonged and dangerous weather pattern continues across much of the United States this week. A powerful dome of high pressure will keep dangerous heat locked over the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and eventually parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, while repeated rounds of thunderstorms bring a serious flash flood threat to southwest Texas. At the same time, the Southwest monsoon is becoming increasingly active, bringing daily thunderstorms and localized flooding concerns across the Four Corners and Intermountain West.