World's First Chief Heat Officer's Tips

Weather changes are ahead for parts of the United States during the last few days of July, including a shift to hot conditions in parts of the East and a new cold front in the Midwest and Northeast that will increase the risk of showers and thunderstorms.

The South enjoyed refreshing conditions and daily record lows late last week. However, it is beginning to feel more like late July in the South and East as humidity levels and temperatures rise as the month comes to an end.

In addition, the chance for rain and thunderstorms will increase in the week ahead for the Midwest, Northeast, South and parts of the Southwest.

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Thunderstorms Develop Across South, East and Midwest

Early this week, a decaying frontal system will remain draped across Florida, where it will enhance rain and thunderstorms. Those storms could produce locally heavy rainfall at times.

An area of high pressure near the East Coast will shift east early this week and increase moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the South.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

In addition, a cold front will slowly track across the Midwest and East in the week ahead.

Showers and thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of this next system, beginning in the Midwest and Mississippi Valley early this week. Storms will then spread into the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys by midweek.

A few strong to severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall are possible.

Temperature Changes

An unusual late-July cold front pushed through the Midwest, Northeast and South last week, reaching all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

This front brought cooler, refreshing conditions all the way into the South that broke numerous daily record lows. Dew points were noticeably lower, leading to a nice break from the typical hot and humid conditions at this time of year.

(MORE: Late-July Record Cold)

Summer is inescapable though, so temperatures and humidity levels have begun to increase in the South and East as more of a southwesterly flow develops.

It will be a hot and humid start to the week as highs in the 90s return to the Northeast and South. Cooler conditions are expected in the Northeast later in the week behind the cold front mentioned above.

Following excessive heat in parts of California over the weekend, a shift in the upper-level pattern will allow temperatures to return closer to average early this week in the Golden State.

Southwest Monsoon Moisture Returns

Upper-level high pressure aloft over the Southwest will shift eastward as July comes to a close, increasing the amount of monsoonal moisture in that region.

This means the coverage of showers and thunderstorms in the Southwest and Four Corners region will increase, especially midweek in Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Localized flash flooding is possible, especially if any heavy storms develop atop burn scars left by wildfires.

As clouds and thunderstorms increase, this will lower temperatures in the Southwest as well.