By Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist
The same storm system that triggered severe thunderstorms in parts of the Northeast on Monday will trigger violent storms in parts of the Southeast prior to midweek ahead of a welcome push of pleasant, fall-like air.
Stifling heat and humidity from Tuesday will provide the fuel necessary for rapid thunderstorm development and intensification from southeastern Virginia to eastern parts of the Carolinas into the nighttime hours.
An unusually strong cold front, by late July standards, pressing southward through the Southeast will also help trigger the storms and signal a temporary end to the typical, summertime heat and humidity.
Cities at risk for locally severe storms include Norfolk and Virginia Beach; Raleigh, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount and Wilmington, North Carolina; and Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The main threats from the thunderstorms will be strong wind gusts, heavy downpours and isolated incidents of flash flooding.
Motorists traveling along Interstate 95 from Emporia, Virginia, to Savannah, Georgia, as well as on secondary roads, should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and significant travel delays.
Unfortunately, the storms are forecast to cross the I-95 corridor right around the time of the evening commute when traffic is generally the heaviest. Be sure to slow down in torrential downpours to reduce the risk of hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.
Never drive through a flooded roadway. It is impossible to judge how deep the water covering a roadway is using only one’s eyesight, and it only takes about 1-2 feet of water to sweep away most vehicles.
Although much of the day may be rain-free along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Grand Strand of South Carolina, the strong, gusty storms should reach the beaches around sunset and spoil many outdoor evening activities.
Anybody planning on surfing or swimming in the Atlantic through midweek should keep in mind that, absent from any storms associated with the cold front, the former Tropical Depression Threewill stir up rough seas and create an enhanced threat for rip currents.
During Wednesday, the cold front will push offshore, which should also force the tropical rainstorm out to sea.
"However, downpours and gusty thunderstorms from both systems are likely to pester coastal North Carolina, while moisture ahead of the front will lead to drenching showers and thunderstorms over much of Florida and the southeastern parts of Georgia and South Carolina," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
In the wake of the front, an abnormally dry and comfortable air mass will settle into the Southeast through the end of the week.
High temperatures, with the exception of the Florida Peninsula, should generally be in the 80s from Wednesday through Friday, and comfortable humidity levels should cap AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to around 90 F.
Low temperatures, especially away from coastal locations, are forecast to trend into the 50s and 60s, which will challenge or even break records in some cities.
The fall-like air mass will create a perfect setting for outdoor activities such as picnics, barbecues, hiking, biking and golfing this week.
In addition, cooling demands will decrease and allow residents to save some money on their cooling bills. Some residents may even be able to shut off their air conditioning units completely for a few days.
Related:
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Southeast Regional Weather Radar
New tropical depression forms off the coast of Florida
It's so hot, these meteorologists baked some biscuits in a parked car
Southeast Regional Weather Radar
Abundant sunshine will accompany the pleasant air, so residents should make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen if spending prolonged time outdoors in the sun.
A return to the heat and humidity experienced this past week and during much of July so far is forecast to hold off until early next week, with only gradually increasing temperatures expected this weekend.
The exception will be across the Florida Peninsula, where daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to accompany ongoing heat and humidity this week.
Download the free AccuWeather app for more details on temperature trends in your community. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV , Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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